Coming into the season, many expected the Texas Rangers to be one of the best teams in baseball. To say that the start of the season has been a disappointment at this point would be an understatement.
A major reason why the Rangers have struggled? Their off-season moves in Marcus Semien and Corey Seager.
How Has Marcus Semien Played This Season?
Before the Rangers double-header on June 7th, Marcus Semien was hitting just .196. He looked like one of the worst hitters in baseball, and it was alarming to the Rangers after the monster deal they signed him for during the offseason.
Fortunately for Semien, he managed to go 7-8 in their double header against the Cleveland Guardians and left the yard thrice. Although it is just one day, the Rangers should feel optimistic about what they can potentially get out of him in the future. Perhaps this is the start of a monster month for Semien, and that is exactly what Texas needs.
Rangers Are Underperforming As A Team
When looking at the year the Texas Rangers have had, it is easy to see that they have been one of the most disappointing squads in the MLB. They are in third place in the American League West with a 26-30 record. Texas sits 9.5 games behind the first-place Houston Astros.
Although the season is still relatively young, being 9.5 games behind the Astros will not be an easy thing to overcome. Houston has been known throughout the past few years as one of the most consistent baseball teams. When also factoring that the American League West is one of the worst divisions in baseball, Houston should be able to take care of nearly every West opponent they will continue facing throughout the year.
Corey Seager Hasn't Played Well
Another major issue for the Texas Rangers is that superstar shortstop Corey Seager has not played well this season. He has managed to belt 11 home runs through 215 at-bats, but he currently has a .223 batting average and has struck out more than double the number of times that he has walked.
Like Marcus Semien, Corey Seager will be a major reason why the Rangers will be able to get back on track if they do so.
Can They Make The Playoffs?
From the looks of things right now, it would be tough to say that the Texas Rangers will be able to make the playoffs. They have an outside chance of doing so via the Wild Card, but winning the West will be nearly impossible if Houston continues playing the way they have.
]]>The Inquisitr
