Original Publish Date/Outlet: July 23, 2025 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Article Link: https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article311196290.html
After Tuesday’s 6-2 win over the visiting A’s at Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers have won four of five games since returning from the All-Star break. What does this mean for the Rangers ahead of the July 31 trade deadline?
Entering Wednesday’s series finale against the A’s, the Rangers are 52-50 after securing their third straight series win. This recent stretch brings about optimism for where the team can go for Rangers general manager Chris Young.
“I think if we can continue the progress we’ve shown over the last several weeks,” Young said. “And win series against teams that are very good teams, but teams that we feel like we can handle, it’s going to determine a lot.”
After the series with the A’s, the Rangers host the Atlanta Braves for a three-game set before hitting the road and traveling to Los Angeles and Seattle ahead of the July 31 deadline. Young said the stakes are high for the Rangers ahead of these next several games.
“Not to put any more pressure on anything,” Young said. “It’s just the reality of this point in the season, and we’re looking up in the standings. We can’t afford losing streaks at this point. We need. to stack together wins.”
The Rangers, after the series win over the Athletics, are third in the AL West behind the Houston Astros and the Mariners. They are 1.5 games back in for a spot in the Wild Card round behind the Tampa Bay Rays.
According to Fangraphs, the Rangers odds to make the playoffs are 28.6%, up from 17.8% before the All-Star Break.
Injury to reliever
The Rangers will have to attempt to continue their second-half hot streak without right-handed pitcher Chris Martin, who suffered a calf strain during the same on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers.
Martin this year has a 2.36 ERA in 39 appearances for the Rangers so far this season. In 34.1 innings, he’s struck out 39 while walking six.
Young says that despite the loss of Martin, who is projected to be out a minimum of four to six weeks, the team will have to move forward.
“This stinks for Chris and the timing of it,” Young said. “But injuries happen, so we’re not gonna feel sorry for ourselves.”
Young says that if the team can continue to perform, getting Martin back later in the season will be significant.
“It’ll be like getting another player at the trade deadline,” Young said.
The same could be said for another right-handed pitcher John Gray, who has been sidelined with a wrist fracture since spring training. Gray made his final rehab start on Monday in Arizona.
Young says that Gray can filled multiple roles on a pitching staff dealing with injuries.
“The great thing about John is that he’s got real versatility,” Young said. “He can start. He can lead. We’re confident he can push leverage for us. He’s obviously be a very good starting pitcher, so there’s a multitude of roles than John can do and is willing to do, and we’re very excited to get him back.”
The Rangers have won 10 of their last 14 fourteen series.
Young pointed to the Rangers’ 2023 season as an example of how quickly tides can turn over the course of 162 games. In 2023, Young said the Rangers were 40-20 through their first 60 games before finishing two games under .500 over their next 102 games.
“Every season has a different ebb and flow to it,” Young said. “And my hope is that the next 62 games are our best 62 games of our season.”
And if that’s the case, Young says the front office is going to look for ways to make moves.
“Assuming this week goes well,” Young said. “Well, we’re going to continue to look at ways to try and improve the club. But we need to continue to play well. That’s what we’re focused on, and it’s my job and the front office’s job to try to do anything we can to support these guys.”