Texas Rangers’ Backs Are Against the Wall

In 2023, Texas had a 40-41 record away from home during the regular season. That made their remarkable 11-0 road record during the playoffs that much more impressive. It was such a phenomenal feat that the team’s World Series rings pay homage to it.

Rangers’ Offense Home/Road Splits

Offensively, the Rangers have not been great on the road or at home this season. That is a fact.

Texas is slashing .232 (28^th)/.299 (28^th)/.375 (27^th) before play on Friday. The team did up their scoring over the month of July, but has shrunk back to their previous struggles as of late.

For the season, the Rangers are averaging only 4.06 runs per game overall. In a day and age where there is added emphasis on offense, that is not ideal.

But even though they aren’t great away from Arlington, the bats have performed better on the road. Especially from a slugging standpoint.

In Arlington, the Rangers have hit only 53 home runs in their 63 home ballgames compared to 74 bombs in their 59 road contests. Some of this could most likely be attributed to the overall lack of carry on balls hit in Arlington this season.

Scoring-wise, Texas is also scoring more runs on the road than they are at home. The Rangers are averaging only 3.86 runs per game at home. On the road, they have scored 4.27 runs per game.

Rangers’ Pitching Home/Road Splits

The real difference in the road versus home saga has been the pitching and defense. At home, the Rangers’ pitching staff has been completely dominant.

When throwing in Arlington, the Rangers have a 2.79 ERA, which is tops in baseball. Yet, when the same staff has thrown on the road, they come in with a 3.99 ERA.

Pitching better at home is not abnormal. The staff is sleeping in their own beds and is able to keep to their normal routines.

But to have such a huge difference in team ERA away from their home stadium is alarming.

And it’s not just the pitching that has been worse, but the defense as well. The Rangers have one of the best defenses in the league, but they have been measurably worse on the road.

At home, the Rangers have only allowed 10 unearned runs all season compared to 24 on the road. So not only are the pitchers struggling, but the defense behind them is as well.

For the Rangers to flip the switch and get back to winning ways on the road, the offense does need to produce more. But perhaps even more than that, the pitching and defense need to perform closer to their at-home splits.

Remaining Schedule

Heading into Friday night action, the Rangers have 40 games left in their regular season. Including the current seven-game road trip to Toronto and Kansas City, they have 22 left on the road and 18 remaining at home.

Now is not the time to keep struggling on the road. Texas has to win at a high clip for the remainder of the season to give themselves any chance of making the postseason.

July was the team’s best month as they had a .640 winning percentage. It will probably take that type of effort of better over the last month and a half to legitimately have a solid chance at the playoffs.

The rest of the schedule is mixed with both playoff-bound teams, ones that are looking to play spoiler, and some that are in the dog fight just like the Rangers.

At this point, every series is important. Texas has seven road series left to go, along with its six that will be played in Arlington. The team doesn’t have to play perfect baseball, claiming all of the series victories, but they can’t afford to drop many.

Winning, both at home, which they have done, and on the road, where they have struggled, is going to be a must if the Rangers are going to find themselves back in the postseason.