What could have been a satisfying end to the season has turned into an embarrassing thud.

Seven losses in a row and counting.

Stuck on seventy-nine wins, there’s a good chance the Rangers don’t even get to .500. They will need to win two of their final six games. Nothing indicates they have the ability to do that.

The only saving grace is that their continued ineptitude could help keep the Astros out of the playoffs. After sweeping Texas, Houston was swept by Seattle. In the tight playoff race, this knocks them out of the wildcard picture for now. Where the Rangers were seven games ago—on the cusp, outside looking in—is where the Astros are now. 

Houston and Cleveland have identical 84-72 records for the third and final wildcard spot. Cleveland owns the tiebreaker over Houston, meaning the Astros would be the odd man out.

Boston is one game better than both teams. The Red Sox own the tiebreaker against the Astros as well. So, it’s really a three-team race for the second and third wildcard positions. 

Texas’s skid helped bolster the Astros, giving them three easy wins. A continued skid against the Guardians in Clevleand could knock the Astros out.

But first, the Rangers have their final three home games of 2025 against Minnesota. Then it’s on to Cleveland where they can play the role of the spoiler. 

There would be nothing more satisfying than the Rangers being responsible for knocking Houston off its perch and out of the playoffs. All they have to do is lose as many games as they can to Cleveland.

They have it in them. Unfortunately. 

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