Following the Rangers' 8-5 loss to the Angels on Monday, Texas had the second-worst record in the Major Leagues, putting the club on track for having the second overall pick in next June’s MLB Draft.

That would be the Rangers' highest pick since taking pitcher Tommy Boggs second overall in the 1974 Draft. They had the top pick in '73, when they drafted pitcher David Clyde.

The Pirates, last place in the National League Central, appear to have the top pick next June. But the next five spots remain uncertain among the other divisional last-place teams.

Rangers manager Chris Woodward is adamant that he is not interested in losing in order to improve next year’s Draft position.

"I want to win every game,” Woodward said before the game. “I'm too competitive. It kills me that our guys -- it's heartbreaking -- sometimes when you don't win games when we play well. They've put so much work in. To win yesterday felt good. I felt good for these guys.

“At no point am I ever going to think about losing a game or trying to lose a game. But, yes, it's definitely in the back of your mind when you step outside of the game. But, yeah, I hope we win the last seven games and screw that all up."

Trevino likely out for remainder of season
Catcher Jose Trevino remains sidelined with a sprained left wrist, and Woodward said it doesn’t look like he will get back before the end of the season.

“It’s not getting much better,” Woodward said. “It’s better, but not good enough where he can go out and play.”

First baseman Ronald Guzmán was out of Monday's lineup against the Angels with tightness in his right hamstring muscle, and he could be down for a couple of days. Woodward said the hamstring has been bothering him for about a week, and it tightened up even more during Sunday’s game.

The Rangers still want Guzmán back in the lineup even though there are only six games remaining after Monday. He is 8-for-48 in his past 16 games.

“It’s dipped a little bit for him,” Woodward said. “To get back on track is important to show us and himself he can right the ship when things aren’t going as well as he would like.”

The Rangers are still hoping Shin-Soo Choo (sprained right wrist) will be able to play before the end of the season. Woodward also said left-hander Joely Rodríguez could be activated this week. He has been down since Sept. 6 with a strained left hamstring and has been throwing in the bullpen again.

Jung praises Bird
First baseman Greg Bird, signed by the Rangers to a Minor League contract this offseason, never got into a game with them in 2020. Instead, he took his free agency on Aug. 14 after refusing an outright assignment.

But Josh Jung, the Rangers' No. 1 prospect, said Bird had a big impact on him both in Spring Training and at the alternate training site.

“He kind of took me under his wing,” Jung said. “Once Spring Training ended, I worked out with him for about a month in Arizona. Then we got to live together for a few months in an Airbnb during this whole weird season.

“The stuff I learned about recovery, how to take care of your body on a daily basis, what kind of food you need to eat, that aspect of it, he was super big in my career. Then the mentality of it -- I can’t say thank you enough to Greg for that. To be able to witness that and him letting me into his routine -- he had a huge impact on me this year.”