The Texas Rangers, who were once five games over .500 following a win over the Oakland Athletics on May 8, have struggled significantly since then, going 32-44. Their recent performance has been concerning, as they’ve dropped nine of their last 12 games following a brief five-game winning streak in late July. This slump included losing two out of three games at home against the Houston Astros. Although the Rangers managed a 4-3 victory in the series opener with a 10th-inning homer from Josh Smith, they were unable to capitalize on that momentum, suffering a 6-4 loss in the final game after being held to just a ninth-inning homer by Corey Seager in the previous game.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70132614/1236457160.0.jpg)
Manager Bruce Bochy expressed urgency, acknowledging the importance of winning games as the team has only 47 games left in the season. He emphasized the need to start winning series to avoid falling too far behind in the standings.
The New York Yankees, facing their second doubleheader in four days, are also struggling, particularly with their pitching. After a promising start with a 5-2 win in a doubleheader opener against the Los Angeles Angels, they lost the next two games, allowing 27 hits and being outscored 17-6. Manager Aaron Boone emphasized the need for better execution from his pitchers as the team navigates a challenging stretch of games against opponents with losing records.
In the upcoming doubleheader, the Yankees will start left-hander Carlos Rodon, who recently earned a win against the Toronto Blue Jays, against Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who is trying to avoid back-to-back losses. In the second game, New York will send right-hander Gerrit Cole to the mound, while Texas will counter with left-hander Cody Bradford, who is still working his way back after missing significant time with a fractured rib. Both teams are in desperate need of wins as they fight to stay in the playoff race.