The Texas Rangers head into Sunday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners with a 15-13 record and a clear sense of urgency as they aim to avoid a home series loss to their AL West rivals and keep pace in a division where every early win is beginning to carry weight, particularly with the surging Mariners threatening to pull away. While the Rangers have found ways to win close games, inconsistencies on offense and injuries to key players have prevented them from stringing together the kind of dominant run that carried them deep into the postseason in 2023, and now they’re tasked with trying to turn the tide behind their ace, Jacob deGrom, whose return to the rotation has been closely monitored after a prolonged stretch of injury setbacks. DeGrom still possesses elite velocity and strikeout ability, and though he’s been effective when healthy, the team has been cautious with his usage, and all eyes will be on his ability to contain a Mariners lineup that thrives on exploiting mistakes and capitalizing in tight moments. Offensively, the Rangers have underwhelmed with a .225 team batting average and just 86 total runs scored, putting additional strain on their pitching staff to keep games low-scoring and creating a razor-thin margin of error in most matchups. Corey Seager and Adolis García continue to be the most dangerous bats in the lineup, but both have been streaky to open the year, and the lack of consistent production from the rest of the order has led to several wasted scoring opportunities. When the Rangers do manage to get on base, they’ve struggled to move runners effectively, and clutch hitting has been noticeably absent over the last week, leading to increased pressure on deGrom and the bullpen to pitch flawlessly.

On the mound, Texas has fared much better, boasting a 3.22 team ERA that ranks among the league’s best, with both starters and relievers contributing to a staff that is capable of matching up against nearly any opponent when fully healthy. The bullpen, anchored by José Leclerc and Brock Burke, has held up well in tight contests, though the unit remains untested against elite offenses in prolonged series. Defensively, the Rangers have been solid, particularly in the infield where Seager and Marcus Semien continue to provide stability and range, but lapses in the outfield have occasionally extended innings and cost them in key moments. With a 6-4 ATS record in their last ten games, Texas has remained a solid home team for bettors, and playing at Globe Life Field could offer the spark needed to shake off their offensive slump. Sunday’s matchup, however, presents a particularly tough challenge as Seattle’s Logan Evans has proven capable of shutting down even the most dangerous lineups, and unless the Rangers can force him into high pitch counts early and take advantage of any opportunities with runners in scoring position, they may struggle once again to provide deGrom with the run support he needs. For a team that still believes in its postseason potential, Sunday offers a key test of resilience, urgency, and execution as the Rangers seek to close the gap in the standings and remind the division that the reigning World Series champs aren’t ready to concede anything just yet.