​The American League West leaders at the All-Star break? It’s the Texas Rangers, who stunned the Astros on Sunday with a walk-off win to cap a winning homestand. No, the Rangers aren’t perfect. Far from it. Their latest issue is a bullpen that has only one pitcher who is trusted at all times, Jacob Latz, who hopped on a plane Sunday evening for the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Injuries continue to hound the team, with Corey Seager still dealing with back woes and with near constant worry about outfielder Wyatt Langford and now right-hander Jacob deGrom. Despite their flaws at the All-Star break — there isn’t a facet that can’t improve — the Rangers are in first place in the American League West. It’s not much of a lead, 1 1/2 games over the Mariners, and the Rangers are the only team in the division above .500. But they are atop the AL West, and they are 49-47. That’s not insignificant. They have survived and continue to buy themselves time to improve over the final 66 games.
“We’re in a decent spot heading into heading into the break,” right fielder Brandon Nimmo said. “We’re in first place. I think we can still play better baseball, but I think that we’re moving in the right direction.” Nimmo delivered the winning hit Sunday, the third of three singles to open the ninth inning against Astros closer Josh Hader. Wyatt Langford opened with a sharp grounder to left field and moved to second on an error, and he went to third as Josh Jung followed with a liner to left. Nimmo’s bouncer up the middle hit off Hader’s glove and past a drawn-in infield for a 6-5 walk-off win. The Rangers led 4-1 in the seventh before the Astros tied things against a beleaguered bullpen that needs reinforcements. Houston pulled ahead in the eighth on a Cam Smith homer, but Kyle Higashioka matched it in the bottom half for a 5-5 tie. Latz (2-1) posted a scoreless ninth.
It wasn’t easy, which is par for the course with a team that has fluttered much of the season. They have endured injuries, primarily to Seager, Langford, Jack Leiter and Jakob Junis, and are playing things save with deGrom after his left glute flared up in his start Tuesday. He won’t throw off a mound until after the season resumes Friday at Atlanta. He felt he could have made his scheduled Sunday, isn’t on the injured list and could pitch within the next five games. MacKenzie Gore allowed one run in four innings while pitching on three days’ rest, perhaps the grittiest effort in the gritty win. It was the Rangers’ 17th come-from-behind win of the season and their second walk-off win of a 4-2 home stretch (2-1 vs. the Angels and the Astros).
The Rangers’ schedule is favorable the remainder of the season, though the next five series are against contending teams. Three of them are division leaders, and the other two are against teams fighting for position, which should provide a meaningful test as they chase progress and perhaps a clearer path to meaningful games down the stretch. For now, Texas sits atop the AL West, carrying a slim lead but a record that suggests resilience and a willingness to weather the rough patches. If they can continue to trend upward and stay healthier than in recent weeks, the final two months could be shaping up as a compelling, competitive sprint to determine how far this team can go.