The Texas Rangers are playing competitive baseball for the first time in 3 seasons. In 2020 (COVID shortened season) the Rangers almost lost 40 out of 60 games. In 2021 they lost over 100 games.
2022 began rough for the Texas Rangers but they have significantly improved the last few weeks. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and and 11-9 over their last 20. Seeing that they only won 7 games in April, May is looking a lot better.
Now I’m not trying to tell you that this is an All-Star riddled team or anything like that. They are not. Pitching is better but now the offense is struggling. We do need to keep in mind that the team just played back to back first place teams and swept one of them.
The Texas Rangers currently sit in third place in the American League West. Their team ERA is 4.03, that is third worst in the American League. Their batting average is also not great at .222.
Marcus Semien is finally coming around. Although he has not hit a home run yet in 2022, he has a .296 batting average with 8 hits in has last 7 games. Kole Calhoun is batting .333 with 3 homers over his last 7 games.
In the last 15 days Martin Perez has been amazing. Cy Young worthy, if Cy Young’s were given for stretches of time instead of a whole season.
Perez is 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA. He has struck out 18 while walking just 3.
Jon Gray is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last three starts. He has struck out 16 while walking 6.
The most consistent player in the bullpen has been Brock Burke. He is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA (0.00 ERA in his last 15 days).
Matt Moore has a 2.21 ERA, Dennis Santana a 2.25 ERA, John King is posting a 2.50 ERA, and Joe Barlow has a 1.35 ERA. Pitching does not seem to be the problem of late.
My belief is that the offense will come around. Semien and Corey Seager will be fine, Kole Calhoun is going to be good, Nathaniel Lowe is improving, Adolis Garcia is either brilliant or what the heck?
This team is at least fun to watch and is competitive in each and every game they play. That is something we could not say over the past few seasons. They are not getting run out of stadiums like they have in past seasons. That is what I call a step in the right direction.
*Ben Dieter is one of the hosts of The Ranger Report Podcast here on Dallas Sports Nation. You can find the Ranger Report on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or at The Ranger Report Website.
