The sky is not falling. Could it? Sure. But Texas Rangers fans ready to concede the American League West division and, more specifically, the 2017 season, need to relax. At least for now.
The Rangers woke up Saturday morning seven games behind the surging Astros, having lost three of four games to Houston in the last week. Texas’s record is four games below .500, with injuries to star players including Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels.
The bullpen has struggled mightily, with an over-five ERA that ranks fifth-worst in baseball, and allowing the highest opposing batting average in MLB (.285).
And yet, the sky is not falling. The Rangers have scored two more runs than they’ve allowed this season. Texas’s 13-17 record is just three wins behind its pace through thirty games a season ago. That team finished the year with 95 wins, more than any other team in the American League, and a second-straight AL West championship.
The schedule is lightening up for the Rangers as well. Texas will not play a team with a winning record again until May 16th. That’s nine straight opportunities to improve their place in the standings (including Saturday night at the Mariners).
So, while there is evidence of potential issues that, if not fixed, could become serious problems (injuries, bullpen, etc.), the time for panic is not here for the Rangers. Yes, the Astros are off to a great start. But thirty games in, the Rangers have time on their side. And they’ll play Houston fifteen more times throughout the next 132 games.
The sky is not falling. Yet.
