Apr 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Patrick Corbin (46) makes his way in from the bullpen prior to a game against the Athletics at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Texas Rangers Bullpen Woes Continue

Originally posted on Texas Rangers on SI | By JD Andress | Last updated Aug 16, 2025 5:00 PM ET

Baseball is one of the most trivial sports. You can make a perfect pitch, only for someone to bloop it over the infield, or you can hit a ball 100 mph off the bat, only for it to find a glove. The trials and tribulations can test your confidence, but its beauty makes the sport so loved.

For fans, though, they aren't playing; they are only hopelessly watching from their seats as their favorite team enters the win column after the final pitch is thrown. Nothing can shake a front office's or fans' confidence more than not being able to trust their bullpen to close games out.

That unfortunate part of the game has become their reality for the Texas Rangers, though, especially in their last 14 losses.

The Coin Toss Effect

The Texas Rangers (61-62) fell below .500 after a brutal loss to the Toronto Blue Jays; Bruce Bochy's late-game pitchers caused another stretch of tough luck. After losing a series to the Arizona Diamondbacks, one they could have easily swept had it not been for more late-game collapses, the Rangers stare down the end of the season, desperately trying to find answers they have been searching for all season.

As Nick Harris with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram pointed out on social media, the Rangers have lost 29 games in the seventh inning or later this season, including 14 of their past 21 losses. The brutality of baseball, as the fan base saw in 2023, is that a simple flip of the final result would drastically impact their season outlook.

If they had just won 14 of those 29 losses, not only would they be 75-48, leading the American League West, but they'd have the best record in the American League. A simple change that would place them squarely in the playoff picture, rather than hoping to get a lifeline to get a wild card spot.

The Season Long Search Continues

Even after getting reinforcements from the trade deadline in Danny Coulombe and Phil Maton, their internal struggles continued. Maton has thrown 62 pitches over the last five games, mainly self-induced, struggling with his command and issuing free passes. Coulombe, stellar in Minnesota, failed to record an out on 17 pitches to the Blue Jays.

Head coach Bruce Bochy acknowledged the struggle and continues that they will search for answers.

“We are in a tough stretch,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “The bullpen has been doing a good job, so it makes it even more frustrating. We had a lead late the last couple games, and we let it get away."

The question remains, though. Will it be enough? Even if they find the answers now, the bullpen woes, compounded with the struggles from the offense, might be too little, too late.

This article first appeared on Texas Rangers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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