Texas faced a pivotal midweek clash without Jacob deGrom, as Caleb Boushley was tasked with stabilizing a shaky Rangers rotation. Boushley’s rough first-inning total of 38 pitches set the tone for a challenging outing against Kansas City, prompting questions about why Kumar Rocker wasn’t recalled. Rocker has been temporarily removed from Round Rock’s Triple-A rotation to work on delivery issues, keeping him on the active Round Rock roster for now. The situation highlights Texas’ depth concerns and the possible, looming return of Rocker if mechanics can be cleaned up.

Fantasy managers should monitor Rocker’s progress closely; a clean delivery could swing the back of the Rangers’ rotation and boost Rocker’s potential fantasy stock. Boushley’s struggles underscore the volatility of mid-rotation options in the Rangers’ current state, while the Royals series presents an opportunity for Texas to reestablish reliability if deGrom is back soon or if Rocker advances. In the near term, depth arms and bullpen usage will be under the microscope as the Rangers navigate a critical stretch.