The Texas Rangers have a chance to prove they're not only contenders to make the playoffs, but they could also make it out of the American League.
It wasn't too long ago that the Rangers won the World Series, but here in 2026, they're on the outside looking in.
A 69-71 record isn't going to cut it, even in an extremely weak AL.
While they're coming off a 9-2 loss , the Rangers have won three of their last four and seem to be getting back on track after a four-game skid from August 25-29.
Now, they get to host the Tampa Bay Rays , a team that's not only the top dog in the AL, but one that is just 3.5 games back of having the best record in all of baseball.
Cal Quantrill is set to pitch in the series opener, but he's coming off a loss that pushed him to 6-5 on the year. Prior to that game, he had won two straight, so it seemed like the 31-year-old was helping give this Rangers pitching staff life heading into the final month of the regular season.
Obviously, Quantrill can only do so much himself, and he did only allow three earned runs on four hits in his latest six-inning outing.
With 47 wins at home, that puts the Rays tied for the second most in all of baseball. This is a team that simply plays at their best when they're at home, but they're coming off a rare home loss to the struggling New York Mets .
Now, the Rays are tasked with playing on the road, and while they are still 36-31 away from home, momentum certainly is not on their side.
Texas has to deal with Shane McClanahan in game one, and then from there it's Nick Martinez and Drew Rasmussen. Together, those three pitchers are a combined 37-15 this season, and not a single one of them has an ERA above 3.19.
Even just splitting this series with the Rays would feel like a win, and for that to happen, Jacob deGrom must outduel Rasmussen.
It'll be a pitching battle for the ages, but deGrom's name is one to keep an especially close eye on now that he was able to turn back the clock in his last start, which was a stellar one-hit outing in seven innings where he struck out eight batters and didn't walk a single one.
