ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have lost four series in a row, including a pair of them to the Athletics following Thursday afternoon’s 3-0 loss at Globe Life Field.
Nothing is coming easy for Texas just over a month into the season. The pitching staff is giving its all, collecting a 3.26 ERA across the first 32 games. The rotation by itself is even better, with an American League-best 2.93 ERA.
But the offense has struggled to a dramatic extent, causing a number of lineup changes and fluctuations that can only change the run production so much.
“I think [the frustration] has been there, no question,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “This is probably one of our worst games. Not a lot to say, except we just didn't hit again. Great pitching, but the bats are quiet. I know we keep talking about it, but this was not good today.”
The Rangers are now 16-16 ahead of a three-game set against the Mariners. Here’s a look at the club’s last week.
The good: Tyler Mahle’s existence
Tyler Mahle completed his fourth quality start of the season but drew his first loss on Thursday. He yielded just one run in the first of his six innings, which was enough with the Rangers’ anemic offense.
Through seven starts this year, Mahle has a 1.19 ERA, which is tied with Yankees starter Max Fried for the lowest ERA in the AL. Every Rangers starter has an ERA under 3.00 except Patrick Corbin and Kumar Rocker, who is currently on the injured list (right shoulder impingement).
“He did a terrific job,” Bochy said. “He did everything he could to help us win the ball game.”
The bad (but getting better?): Marcus Semien’s stats
Multiple Rangers hitters are slumping. That much is obvious from the offensive production. But Semien -- a notoriously slow starter -- has struggled to a .523 OPS this season. Bochy has moved him out of the leadoff spot, hoping to alleviate some of the pressure early in the season.
But after a 1-for-2 day with two walks on Thursday, Semien now has hits in six straight games and has reached in 13 of his past 15 games. During this six-game hitting streak, he’s hitting .400 with three RBIs, five walks and a .920 OPS.
“We're preparing, like all Major League teams do every day,” Semien said. “I come in, I watch video, I hit in the cage, I hit BP, I rest, then I hit in the cage again, then I play the game. That's my routine. Those are the necessary steps I take to prepare for a Major League game every single day. Once you get out there in the game, you trust your work.”
The ugly: the offense’s general malaise
The Rangers, in all seriousness, should be a league-average offense. They have not had an extra-base hit since Kyle Higashioka's double against a position player in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 15-run effort. They haven't had a home run since a three-homer fourth inning last Thursday in West Sacramento.
The team average (.229) and OPS (.367) are middling but not bottom five in the Majors. Entering the day, they had the highest team chase rate (31.4 percent) and the fourth-lowest sweet-spot rate (31.4 percent).
But none of that really matters, because Texas’ struggles come down to the lack of opportunities, first and foremost. The average team this year is taking 44.3 percent of its plate appearances with runners on base and 26.1 percent with runners in scoring position. The Rangers are taking 38.9 percent with runners on and just under 22 percent with RISP. Only the Angels have been worse (36.6 percent and approximately 19 percent).
When they do get runners in scoring position, the Rangers are hitting .237, which isn’t great, but the league average is .246.
Everybody, obviously, is trying to right this ship before it gets too late. Per a source, the club is demoting Jake Burger, who has batted .190 with a .561 OPS in 30 games, to Triple-A Round Rock and calling up first baseman Blaine Crim. Bochy also has tinkered with the lineup more than ever. Hitters meetings have adjusted, and batting practice has been more frequent. It’s just not yet clicking.
“There’s a fine line with staying behind them and hoping they find it,” Bochy said. “That's the tough part about it. That's my job, man. I'm trying to get the right recipe out there, one that’s going to get us going, and it's not working. You’ve got to get some guys hot right now. It's tough when you don't keep your line moving. When you're not slugging, you’ve got to get at least three hits in a row. We're not doing that.”