Arlington, TX — As the Texas Rangers enter the most critical stretch of the 2025 season, a glaring issue continues to plague the defending World Series champions: an inability to hit with runners in scoring position. And it’s threatening to undo what should have been another deep postseason run.
The Rangers dropped another close contest to the Arizona Diamondbacks last night, squandering multiple opportunities with runners on base. In a now-familiar pattern, Texas stranded the bases loaded — not once, but twice — further highlighting a season-long offensive drought that has become the team’s Achilles’ heel.
High-Level Pitching, Low-Level Production
Ironically, the Rangers’ pitching has been among the best in baseball this season — an unexpected and welcome surprise. With a team ERA ranked near the top of the league and a rotation that has exceeded expectations, pitching was not supposed to be the storyline in 2025.
Instead, it’s the offense — or lack thereof — that’s made headlines.
Heading into mid-August, Texas ranks 27th in MLB in batting average with runners in scoring position (RISP), posting a dismal .235 mark. Only the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago White Sox have fared worse in high-leverage situations.
The team’s full slash line with RISP (.235/.311/.365) tells the same story. The on-base percentage is 28th, slugging percentage 27th, and OPS a woeful .657 — 26th in the majors. This drop-off is particularly troubling given the offensive pedigree this team showcased in previous seasons.
A Stark Contrast from the Past
Just one year ago, the Rangers were among the best in the league with RISP, hitting .271 — good for third overall. During their 2023 World Series run, they ranked fourth with a .275 average in such situations.
The sharp decline in performance is not due to major roster turnover, either. The core of the lineup remains largely intact, making the regression even more baffling for fans and analysts alike.
Bright Spots Amid the Darkness
While the team as a whole has struggled, a couple of individual performances deserve recognition. Marcus Semien continues to be a clutch performer, with an OPS that improves by more than .300 in RISP situations — the fourth-best jump in the majors. Rookie Wyatt Langford has also been a rare bright spot, posting a +.236 OPS increase with runners on — 13th best in MLB.
Unfortunately, their success hasn’t been enough to offset the broader offensive issues. Sluggers like Adolis García, Jonah Heim, Josh Jung, and Joc Pederson have all endured underwhelming seasons, particularly in critical at-bats with runners on base.
The Clock Is Ticking
With the AL playoff race tightening and only a few weeks remaining, time is running out for the Rangers to right the ship. They’re still in the mix, thanks to their pitching staff, but if the offense continues to stall in the clutch, the team could find itself watching October baseball from home.
And that would be a devastating outcome for a roster built to contend — and defend.
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