This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
The postseason is well within sight for the Rangers at this point in the season, but there is also no doubt that it will come down to the last few games of the season.
With just seven very important games left -- three against the Angels in Anaheim and four in Seattle -- it feels as if Texas is a lifetime away from clinching its first postseason berth since 2016. A lot can happen down the stretch, so I tried to answer some of your questions as we gear up for the end of the regular season.
Gonna task you with some research since I couldn't find the answer myself: The Rangers have more blown saves than they have saved. Has any team ever made the playoffs with that same statline? -- @Mike_Librizzi_1 on social media
Shoutout to my friends on MLB.com’s research team who actually got this answer for you.
Entering Friday, Texas had 32 blown saves and just 28 saves. If it holds below 50% and the Rangers make the postseason, they would be the first playoff team with a team save percentage below 50% (i.e. more blown saves than saves) since saves became an official stat in 1969. The lowest percentage coming into this season was the 2020 White Sox at 52%.
I said earlier this week in the AL West roundtable that if anything kept the Rangers out of the postseason, it would be the bullpen. That’s not exactly a secret, but the numbers back it up.
Is Wyatt Langford gonna get a shot at the big leagues this season? Also, what are the odds if Jack Leiter has another good start at AAA we call him as a bullpen option for the last week of the season? -- @Daylan_Allen on social media
Never say never -- and I was wrong about Evan Carter earlier this month -- but I personally think the only way Wyatt Langford gets to the big leagues over these next seven days is if a major injury happens to one of Leody Taveras, Adolis García or Carter.
When García landed on the IL in early September, the Rangers showed they had more trust that Carter could compete at this level than having Travis Jankowski or Robbie Grossman every day down the stretch, even after considerable contributions from both of them earlier in the season. I think it’s more likely we see him on Opening Day 2024 than in September-October this year.
As for Leiter, I think that’s even less of a possibility than Langford. He’s had such a great end to the season after multiple trips to the Developmental List that I truly just don’t think they want to take a chance on ruining his development so early in his career. The Rangers have shown they’re being careful with him and taking it slow if necessary. A promotion to the big leagues may not be what's best for Leiter or the organization as a whole.
Who would the starting three be in a playoff series, provided the club could set them? -- @ElementalGemini on social media
Personally, you start with Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi. I think Eovaldi’s health and consistency over his last two regular season starts will determine if you go to him before or after Mongomery, but he’s no doubt been your ace for the majority of the season.
Then it’ll come down to Jon Gray or Dane Dunning for the last spot. Gray has better stuff but has been wildly inconsistent this season. Dunning may be better used out of the bullpen but has been a more than serviceable replacement for Jacob deGrom in the rotation (though obviously, nobody can truly replace deGrom).