What Needs to Happen for the Rangers to Get Out of Their 2026 Mid-Season Slump?

The Texas Rangers have had what some may say is a roller coaster season so far, as they’re just about three weeks away from the 2026 MLB All-Star Break, taking place from July 10th to July 14th, sitting in the middle of the competitive, yet extremely average American League West with a record of 35-38. If you go back to just a couple of weeks ago, they were hitting their stride, sweeping the Kansas City Royals at the end of May, and taking another series road win against the St. Louis Cardinals. Then, they opened the month of June with a series win against the Cleveland Guardians and another against the Royals. They were finding their confidence in their bats and pitching, but as soon as they made the trip to Fenway Park on June 12th, to take on the Boston Red Sox, they hit a slump; losing two out of three against a team that simply couldn’t win at home, and then losing two against the struggling Minnesota Twins, and they’re currently losing game three in the series. The Rangers have struggled to get over .500 on the season since April 26th, when they dropped to 14-14, but they’ve continued to be around that mark, which is what’s keeping them on the cusp of the Wild Card race for the postseason, and this is what will hopefully get them past that mark and get closer in the race for the AL West Championship.

Get Rocker Out of the Starting Rotation

Kumar Rocker has all the capability and talent to be a solidified starter in Major League play, but right now is not the time to experiment with that fantasy. Throughout the season, he has continued to struggle from the very first pitch and to keep teams from striking first, making it hard for the Rangers’ offense to get comfortable in the batter’s box, as they’re already facing the pressure of getting hits in the field and runs on the board. His last outing, against the Twins on June 16th, was one to forget. In not even four innings, he gave up seven hits, resulting in six runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. The Twins were able to jump on his fastball early on and drove up his pitch count in a flash, forcing Rangers manager Skip Schumaker to get his young arm off the mound. This is, unfortunately, a common occurrence for the former Vandy star as he’s sporting a 6.92 ERA in the first inning alone. This isn’t even the highest it’s been in the season, as back in mid-May, it peaked at a whopping 11.25. There was a point earlier in May where Skip had subbed out Rocker for 31-year-old Tyler Alexander. The righty from TCU had pitched 1.1 innings, and then was taken out so Rocker wouldn’t have to face the top of the order. He was extremely impressive in that outing, as he pitched 7.2 innings, allowed only three hits, and no runs. From that point, the 26-year-old should’ve been kept as a long reliever in the bullpen, but I assume the whole point of the move was to get his confidence back. That has yet to come to fruition, as he hasn’t had a quality game like that one since. It’s easier said than done, of course, but players like Jacob Latz and Alexander can be replacements for the time being. 

Let the Young Talent Play

It’s no secret that the names Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford come with talent, expectations, and domination, yet there have only been glimpses of that since the regular season started. During Spring Training, Langford was climbing the lists for American League MVP, Gold Glove candidacy, and Silver Slugger-esque offensive performances. Alas, a right forearm flexor strain has plagued the rising star’s season and has put a damper on his consistency and performance. The same can be said for Seager, as he’s proven time and time again how dominant he can be on the diamond and the batter’s box. In mid-May, Seager was forced onto the 10-day injured list as he was dealing with lower back inflammation during his career-worst 0-27 slump. The former World Series Champion then suffered another injury just days after getting activated from the injured list as he had a scary collision at home plate with catcher Carter Jensen while trying to score from first base, landing him back on the injured list.

While the Rangers’ household names have been in and out of the lineup, young talent gets brought up and sent back down, but their performances might question whether they deserve a chance to stick in the lineup. To start, outfielder Alejandro Osuna was productive while Langford was sidelined. He was more used as a fill-in piece in the designated hitter spot and some play in the outfield, and through 39 games in Major League play, the 23-year-old gave the Rangers some much-needed discipline at the plate. Through 98 at-bats, he was hitting a decent .245 average, knocking in nine RBIs, and four strikeouts. In those at-bats, he only struck out 12 times. Michael Helman is another name to bring up, as even though he wasn’t as productive in the batter’s box, only hitting .179 this season, he provided much-needed depth in the infield and outfield, playing at least one game in left, center, and right field, and also played four games at shortstop while Seager was out. Suddenly, though, he’s now landed himself on the injured list as he suffered multiple fractures in his right hand. While Helman is out, another young name to look out for is Cody Freeman. The 25-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, has been a name to keep an eye on since 2024, and has even joined the “Little Rascals”, a group that was coined by Rangers Sports Network broadcaster David Murphy, because of his sudden, high-energy impact for the Rangers. He’s personally a great player who has proven to provide steady baseline hitting and defensive flexibility, and in just a handful of appearances, he’s someone the Rangers can rely on. In 14 at-bats, he’s hitting a .286 average with four hits and five strikeouts. In Minor League play, he’s a .297 average in 64 at-bats, with a pair of home runs and 16 RBIs. Much like Helman, Freeman’s value comes in the defensive side of the ball, as he’s already logged playing time at second base and left field.

Something needs to change for the Rangers, as there is too much talent and promise within the lineup to constantly be average or mediocre at best, and their record is reflecting everlasting issues with the offense, pitching, and unforeseen injuries. Young talent has proven to provide flexibility all over the field, and some offensive production, but the team will never know unless they keep them in the lineup. Trying to force players back from injury, like Langford and Seager, puts them at risk of reaggravating an injury that can easily be reaggravated, forcing more moves in the lineup and leading to more frustration within the clubhouse and the fans. With the trade deadline coming up, there are questions whether Skip’s squad will be sellers for help outside the organization, or if they continue to trust that the team from Arlington, TX will find their stride as the playoffs start to loom over the league.