Texas regrouped by eight wins in nine games, easing into real playoff contention despite key injuries. FanGraphs puts their odds at 14.4%, a modest bump that nevertheless signals resilience under pressure. Merrill Kelly’s arrival reframed the team’s arc, while Wyatt Langford’s hot stretch anchors a lineup missing Seager and Semien. Nathan Eovaldi’s leadership endures even on IL, guiding Jack Leiter’s emergence. With tough remaining foes (Astros, Brewers, Mets) and a Mariners tiebreaker looming, the Rangers ride a gritty, next-man-up ethos into a possible late surge.

Langford’s September-like burst and Seager’s expected return could tilt a tight race; the 2025 Rangers Experience vibe is real, as the club leans on veteran mentorship and young talent to chase October while navigating a brutal schedule and lingering injuries.

Texas regrouped by eight wins in nine games, easing into real playoff contention despite key injuries. FanGraphs puts their odds at 14.4%, a modest bump that nevertheless signals resilience under pressure. Merrill Kelly’s arrival reframed the team’s arc, while Wyatt Langford’s hot stretch anchors a lineup missing Seager and Semien. Nathan Eovaldi’s leadership endures even on IL, guiding Jack Leiter’s emergence. With tough remaining foes (Astros, Brewers, Mets) and a Mariners tiebreaker looming, the Rangers ride a gritty, next-man-up ethos into a possible late surge.

Langford’s September-like burst and Seager’s expected return could tilt a tight race; the 2025 Rangers Experience vibe is real, as the club leans on veteran mentorship and young talent to chase October while navigating a brutal schedule and lingering injuries.

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.