Josh Jung’s revival has become the spark for Texas as injuries reshape the lineup. After a mid-season demotion to Round Rock and a bench stint in August, Jung has surged back into everyday duty and is delivering in a big way, helping the Rangers close ground on a Wild Card spot.

In the last 15 games Jung is hitting .347/.385/.490 with a seven-game multi-hit streak, and in seven recent games he’s at .517/.533/.724. He’s facing off-speed and breaking pitches more effectively, cutting his strikeouts while maintaining a low chase rate, and tying this sharp run to swing tweaks and better ball tracking that have his hard contact up well above his career norms.

Bochy has emphasized the mental reset, noting Jung’s ability to “de-clutter your head” and compete. With core injuries piling up, Jung’s performance has become central to Texas’s resurgence, underscoring how quickly a veteran prospect can flip the narrative when he refocuses and the team sustains a winning grind.

Texas Rangers push their winning streak to seven of their last eight, routing Oakland 9-3 and clinching the series at Sutter Health Park. Merrill Kelly spun six solid innings after being acquired at the deadline, surrendering just a couple of solo shots in the third. Texas pounded out 17 hits, with Langford delivering his 20th homer and Jung collecting three hits in a strong run. Pederson and Higashioka joined the multi-hit effort, while Helman supplied a timely double. Dylan Moore, who debuted Friday, homered in the ninth to cap the win.

Offense came early and often: a three-spot in the second, another in the fourth, and a nine-run ninth that showcased depth as the Rangers chase late-season momentum. The lineup leaned on changeups and contact, leaning away from the hard stuff to neutralize Oakland’s attack, while the bullpen preserved the lead. Fantasy managers should watch Langford, Jung, and Helman for continued plate discipline and power upside as the Rangers near postseason contention.

Texas' coaching staff forged a makeshift lineup as Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Nathan Eovaldi sat out, yet the Rangers surged behind unsung heroes like Helman, Langford, Jung, Pederson and Haggerty. Adolis García’s return-to-form and a patient, fast-starting Carter helped the offense while a 3.17 ERA marked steady pitching even with rotation injuries. The club’s wild-card odds flicker, but the depth and baton-passing approach kept them in the chase.

Bochy’s crew leaned on midseason signings and a buy-in from a resilient clubhouse. The narrative shifted from star power to roster churning, with Corbin’s eight-scoreless innings and Leiter’s growing confidence illustrating how the Rangers can survive and even thrive on the margins as Seager and Semien monitor timelines.

Oakland hosts Texas in a high-stakes series opener, with the A’s riding a rookie-infused lineup led by Nick Kurtz as they chase the season-series edge. Jeffrey Springs starts for Oakland, aiming to drop his season ERA under 4 after a solid recent showing. Jack Leiter counters for Texas, fresh off a dominant seven-inning start, while Adolis Garcia returns and Wyatt Langford re-enters the lineup, giving the Rangers improved pop with Semien and Seager sidelined.

The matchup centers on a former top-draft duel and the breakout potential of Oakland’s youngsters—Kurtz, Wilson, Gelof and Butler—against Leiter’s late-season surge. The series carry fantasy implications: A’s rookies could deliver DFS value, while Texas eyes a playoff push despite lineup gaps. The winner clinches the season series and momentum heading into September.