After appearing as though they had turned a corner, a sweep by Toronto has the Texas Rangers back at square one ahead of the trade deadline.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Fresh off sweeping the last-place Chicago White Sox to fuel hope that they had finally broken through in an often miserable 2024 season, the Texas Rangers once again saw their hopes for turning a corner dashed as they were swept by the last-place Toronto Blue Jays to give up the ground that they had fought to make up during a five-game winning streak.
Now back at square one, the Rangers have provided more questions than answers with just one series remaining in July. With the trade deadline also breathing down their necks, general manager Chris Young’s job became a lot more difficult as Texas laid an egg up north.
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Game 104: Texas 5, Toronto 6 (W: Green, 3-2, L: Sborz, 2-1)
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Game 105: Texas 3, Toronto 7 (W: Gausman, 9-8, L: Lorenzen, 5-6)
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Game 106: Texas 3, Toronto 7 (W: Berrios, 9-8, L: Hernandez, 3-1, Sv. Pop, 1)
Ambush tactics
The Blue Jays came out swinging hard in the first inning in each game of this series. Even though the Rangers themselves were able to get on the board first on Friday and Saturday, Toronto scored ten, first-inning runs spread out over the course of the series.
Things escalated quickly for each Rangers starter. On Friday, Corey Seager missed the bag on a would-be double play that, instead of ending the inning with no damage, resulted in the next two Blue Jays hitting back-to-back doubles off lefty Andrew Heaney to give Toronto the 3-1 lead.
On Sunday, after seven pitches and two outs, Texas starter Michael Lorenzen surrendered back-to-back singles, followed by a Daulton Varsho homer. After being unable to retire any of the next four hitters, Lorenzen’s afternoon ended early without making it out of the first frame.
On Sunday, Jon Gray didn’t even make a pitch as he injured his groin during warmups and was lifted for middle reliever Jonathan Hernandez. Tasked with an unfamiliar job, Hernandez immediately allowed three Blue Jays runs.
Ultimately, the early production from Toronto made the difference in the series and doomed the Rangers to their latest crisis.
Buzzards circling
Gray’s exit forced the Rangers into a predicament. With long relievers Dane Dunning and Jose Ureña being used the day before in relief of Lorenzen, manager Bruce Bochy had to move to the next best options – Hernandez and Jacob Latz. Hernandez gave up five runs total in 2 ⅓ innings and Latz gave up a run to put Texas in a 6-0 hole early.
How dire did things get by the end for Texas? The next option for Bochy was the prior day’s starter, Lorenzen. Lorenzen didn’t make it out of the first inning on Saturday, effectively making a long bullpen appearance. With a history of relief work, Lorenzen gave Texas exactly what it needed – length and depth, going four innings and allowing just one run in what was a lost cause in the end.
Setback for Carter
Hopes of Evan Carter coming back to augment the Rangers’ inconsistent offense were dashed before the start of the series on Friday. The club announced that Carter’s back soreness has not improved since he hit the injured list in late May.
The one-time Rookie of the Year hopeful was shut down from all baseball activities and will see another specialist. It could be a lingering issue from the stress fracture in his back in 2021, but regardless, the Rangers won’t be relying on Carter to help them through the foreseeable rest of the season. That could alter the Rangers’ trade deadline strategy.
Breaking out
If there is a silver lining from this series, it’s that Adolis Garcia had himself a good weekend after a season-long slump. Going 4-for-11 with a run scored and four RBI, the Rangers’ right fielder might be finally starting to wake up.
Over the last seven games, Garcia has a .296/.345/.444 slash. It might be too little, too late to, turn things around for Texas’ expected top middle-of-the-lineup slugger, but there’s still time to make a push, and if Garcia can contribute consistently, that would be a huge boost, especially with the news that Carter isn’t close to returning.
What now?
The Rangers next head to St. Louis in the last series before the trade deadline and final series of July. Sweeping the last place White Sox made Texas seem like they could be buyers as they drew closer in the AL West. Being swept by the last-place Blue Jays might have changed the equation, however.
At four games below .500, the Rangers are playing like a team that can’t be counted on to meet expectations, and the chances to live up to those expectations could be taken out of their hands by management by Tuesday’s deadline.
Do you think the Rangers will be able to recover from their latest collapse? Share your thoughts with Matt on Twitter @FisherWritesMLB.