Texas rode a pitching clamp-down and a power surge to a 5-0 win over Cleveland, sweeping the Guardians and climbing back to .500 at 66-66. The sweep nudged the Rangers within striking distance of the AL wild-card race, with odds around the mid-teens after a modest bump from FanGraphs. A trio of Texas starters limited Cleveland to one run in 21 innings, while Langford, Duran, Pederson, Tellez and Freeman supplied the offense, including Pederson’s big hits and Freeman’s Sunday go-ahead blast. The club now faces a six-game slate against the Astros, Brewers and Mets that will test their staying power and remaining playoff odds.

Manager Bruce Bochy’s club has navigated injuries and inconsistency all season, but the latest results show an energized lineup and a rotation that can carry them in a tight stretch run. With the Royals nipping at them for the top AL wild-card spot, Texas will need to sustain this momentum and maximize each opportunity to push the odds higher than the roughly 15% range they’ve elevated into after the Cleveland series.