The Dallas Mavericks are on the brink of reaching the NBA Finals, while the Stars are still in contention for the Stanley Cup, overshadowing the reigning World Series champions, the Texas Rangers, in the Metroplex.
Despite the buzz around basketball and hockey, the Rangers are facing challenges to grab attention. This week, they face the Arizona Diamondbacks in a World Series rematch, with both teams currently below .500, dampening the excitement of the matchup. The Rangers have been plagued by injuries to key starting pitchers, impacting their performance.
Although star pitchers like Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer have yet to take the mound this season, Texas' starters have maintained a respectable 3.65 ERA. However, the bullpen has struggled with the second-worst ERA in the league at 5.09, with eight blown saves in 17 opportunities.
Offensively, the Rangers had high hopes for prospects Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford, but Carter is batting just .188, and Langford, currently on the injured list, is hitting .224.
Despite their challenges, the Rangers find themselves in a relatively weak AL West division, with only the Seattle Mariners holding a winning record. Texas trails the Mariners by just three games, with the entire division posting negative run differentials.
Looking at the bigger picture, historical data suggests that teams in playoff positions around Memorial Day often secure postseason berths. FanGraphs' postseason odds already favor teams like the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, and Braves, while the Orioles also have a strong chance of making the playoffs.
Trivia enthusiasts may note that the last time both defending league champions finished below .500 in a full season was in 1986 when the Royals and Cardinals followed up their 1985 World Series matchup with subpar records.
On the field, standout performances included Baltimore's Kyle Bradish pitching seven hitless innings and striking out 11 against the White Sox, and Pittsburgh's dramatic comeback against San Francisco, overcoming a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to secure a thrilling victory.
As the MLB season progresses, the Texas Rangers aim to overcome their challenges, capitalize on the division's competitiveness, and potentially turn their season around to contribute to the success of Dallas-area sports.
