ARLINGTON, Texas — Things haven’t gone quite as planned for the defending champion Texas Rangers in 2024, but at least they can say that they had some fight in them at the end of the first half.
The final series wasn’t pretty or easy, but Texas took a game plan to Houston and were able to execute a series win against the team immediately ahead of them in the standings. A dramatic weekend in Houston was nothing short of what we’ve come to expect from two American League West contenders and in-state rivals.
Though it came just days ahead of the Midsummer Classic, the Rangers and Astros played with a playoff atmosphere surrounding Minute Maid Park.
Game 94: Texas 3, Houston 6 (W: Brown, 7-6, L: Heaney, 3-10, Sv: Hader, 18)
Game 95: Texas 2, Houston 1 (W: Robertson, 3-3, L: Scott, 6-3, Sv: Yates, 15)
Game 96: Texas 4, Houston 2 (W: Sborz, 2-0, L: Blanco, 9-4, Sv: Yates, 16)
Injured, but not out
Marcus Semien was made an All-Star by virtue of his fellow players voting for him but he was named the starting second baseman of the American League after fan vote-winner Jose Altuve opted to not play in the Midsummer Classic.
Altuve had been hit in the left hand the week before by Josh Winder of the Minnesota Twins. Claiming that the hand was still swollen and bruised, the Astros’ second baseman publicly stated that he would take the All-Star Break to heal the hand and get ready for the second half.
That, however, did not deter him from playing the entirety of the series against Texas. Altuve’s presence was a determining factor in the opening game of the series. As reliable as Jose Urena has been for the Rangers both in the rotation and out of the bullpen, it’s hard to top the lifetime .304/.368/.519 slash line that Altuve brings to the field.
Urena was brought in to keep the Rangers at a 3-2 deficit, the second baseman came to the plate with two on and two out – and a base open. The thought of facing Altuve with a bad hand was more appealing than facing Alex Bregman with the bases loaded – but the end result was Altuve sending a ball to the back of the Crawford Boxes for a three-run homer to blow the opener wide open.
That would be the difference in the game, as Texas would only score one more run against the Houston bullpen.
The bulldog shoves again
During the 2023 ALCS between these two teams, Nathan Eovaldi picked up two wins against the Astros by allowing five runs in 12 ⅓ innings which included giving up just two runs in a crucial Game 6 win.
On Saturday, with not quite as much on the line, Eovaldi was even better. The Rangers and Astros traded blows in the first inning of the middle game of the series. Texas swung a haymaker with a Semien leadoff home run and the Astros landed a few body shots with a few linked together base hits to tie the game.
From there, both Eovaldi and Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti started trading zeroes. Eovaldi went one frame longer than Arrighetti, seven total, and allowed Texas to stave off using their middle relievers. Texas eventually broke through in the 10th via a Nathaniel Lowe RBI single and All-Star closer Kirby Yates was able to close it to even the series in Houston.
All-Star snub shines
Minnesota Twins utility player Willi Castro was named an All-Star replacement along with Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg. Castro, who had joined the Twins two years ago on a Minor League deal, is hardly a household name but is a versatile, valuable player – however metrics-wise, Josh Smith has been better in 2024.
Smith has filled in more than admirably for Josh Jung at third Base and offensively, he showed in the finale what he has shown all year – he should be an All-Star. Smith contributed to the Rangers’ series-winning victory on Sunday with a two-run homer in the first inning to give Max Scherzer a lead to work with.
As the Astros and Rangers continued to trade potential run-scoring opportunities, Smith again came through for Texas in the eighth inning with another two-run homer, to contribute all of the Rangers’ runs and give them some insurance with a 4-1 lead. Thanks to Smith, Texas was able to come away with a series win against their division rivals to close out the first half.
The Rangers head back to Arlington now to take in the All-Star festivities and watch Adolis Garcia in the Home Run Derby and Semien and Yates in the All-Star Game. The Baltimore Orioles await them on the other side, but for now, the Rangers can enjoy a well-earned break.
Do you think the Rangers will make a run in the second half? Share your thoughts with Matt on Twitter @FisherWritesMLB.
