Texas Rangers players cheer after center fielder Ezequiel Duran earned a walk during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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When Bruce Bochy first took over the Rangers manager’s job four spring trainings ago and talked about the goal of “meaningful games in September,” we all nodded wisely. We were in the presence of greatness, a sage. But it was our mistake that no one spoke up and asked for a precise definition.
Skip Schumaker has used the same phrase, both back in Arizona and in recent weeks. Lo and behold, the Rangers began their final three-game home series Tuesday against the downtrodden New York Metropolitans, and, by gosh, these are meaningful games in late September.
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Texas Rangers center fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) and right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) misplay a fly ball by New York Mets designated hitter Francisco Alvarez during the fourth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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A thank you message for New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien is seen on a video board during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) walks to the batter’s circle during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) waves to fans after being recognized for his time as a Texas Rangers player during the second inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) catches a fly ball off the bat of New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge during the second inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) reacts after an RBI double alongside New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) during the third inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers center fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) celebrates his run with first baseman Jake Burger (21) during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) high fives teammates after scoring a run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (14) reacts after being hit by a pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) singles to center during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers center fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) shakes hands with New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) during the second inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) fouls off a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Jakob Junis (16) throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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A pair of young fans wave their shirts as New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) takes an at bat during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) fields a ground from New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) during the seventh inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Robert Garcia (62) throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) walks to the dugout after giving up three runs during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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New York Mets designated hitter Francisco Alvarez (4) slides safely ahead of the tag from Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen (9) during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger (21) catches a sacrifice fly from New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens as designated hitter Francisco Alvarez scores during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) drops a rosin bag after giving up a pair of runs during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) watches as a New York Mets designated hitter Francisco Alvarez (not pictured) doubles to left center and scores a pair of runs during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) throws to first after tagging out New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) watches a foul ball during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) waits for the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) slides safely into second base after a double as Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (14) fields the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) jogs off the field during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers fans stand and applaud pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) as he exits during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers center fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) catches a ball off the bat of New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien for an out during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers Skip Schumaker (55) argues a call with home plate umpire Laz Diaz alongside center fielder Ezequiel Duran during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers Skip Schumaker (55) argues a call with home plate umpire Laz Diaz during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) smiles alongside second baseman Marcus Semien (10) after winning a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (right) laughs with second baseman Marcus Semien (10) after winning a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Technically, Texas owned a one-game division lead on hated rival Houston with six to play, and you can’t get much tighter and better than that for local fans. But with the Rangers sporting a 78-78 record entering the week, it still feels off. Maybe it’s because some of us have been around a few years and can even remember a San Francisco Giants team that won 103 games and missed the playoffs. Atlanta won 104 that year (1993), captured the NL West flag and advanced to the four-team postseason.
Now we have 12 out of 30 playing next week, and the AL West champ is already assured of one unremarkable record. The record for fewest wins by a full-season AL division winner is 85, held by a few clubs. The winner of this year’s West — Rangers or Astros — won’t climb higher than 83.
Ask anyone involved if these totals matter. The answer is a resounding no. No penalties even if the Rangers squeak in at 81-81 (as long as the Astros, who own the tiebreaker, only win 80). We will simply have to watch these six games with Houston here and Minnesota there — a run that started wsith a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Mets on Tuesday — to find out what’s in store for Schumaker’s first Texas team.
“We’re using everybody we can to win today, and then see where we’re at tomorrow after tonight’s game,” Schumaker said. “I think they’re all ready to roll, and they know what’s at stake.”
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The Rangers have a built-in advantage on Houston this week beyond the one-game lead. At least, I regard it as an edge, and the manager sort of agreed while not wanting to buy too much stock in my premise.
Consider Texas and Houston as golfers getting ready for a six-hole playoff. And the Rangers have the honors, teeing off first on the first five holes. Lace a bomb down the middle of the fairway and put the pressure on the Astros to answer every day. That’s how this one looks to me.
Playing at home and then in Minnesota with day games on Thursday and Saturday, the Rangers’ games start anywhere from 90 minutes to seven hours before Houston’s games on the West Coast with Seattle and the A’s in Sacramento. The mental gymnastics players perform as a long, difficult season winds down the stretch are considerable. If the Astros repeatedly take the plate in the top of the first, seeing the Rangers with a two-run lead or perhaps already having won?
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve reacts after striking out against Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Victor Mederos during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Karen Warren/AP Photo/Karen Warren
“I mean I’ll be lying to you if I say guys aren’t scoreboard watching,” Schumaker said prior to Tuesday’s game. “You definitely peek up in between innings and that sort of thing. But as far as the advantage during the game and how you manage a game or something like that, I don’t do that. I’m still trying to win the game, no matter what the score is.”
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Technically, the Rangers held a 3-2 lead when Jeremy Pena stepped to the plate to open Houston’s game with Seattle on Tuesday. The fact that the Rangers’ lead vanished here within minutes while Houston scored a first-inning run does not spoil my argument.
Trying to win, finding a way — it’s the ultimate challenge for Texas over the next six days as they roll out a wounded rotation and a tapped-out bullpen. Monday’s off day should have helped considerably. But actually it was the bullpen — specifically Nathan Eovaldi, still working his way back towards starter innings — that lost the grip on Tuesday’s game.
And the only starter currently penciled in for two starts (emphasis on the pencil) is MacKenzie Gore, mostly known as the guy with the 4.67 ERA that President Chris Young landed for the low, low price of … five prospects?
He was actually pretty good Tuesday, but it didn’t matter. It has been that kind of season. Weird. Unsettling. Uneven. Unpredictable, to be sure. When the Rangers blew a 3-1 lead to Boston here Thursday night, I thought with certainty that was it. Instead Texas took two out of three from Toronto while the Astros were getting swept by the Braves.
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The advantage slipped a bit Tuesday. For a team that has held a .500 record 24 times this season, more than any other club in the majors, it’s going to be a fight to the finish Sunday.