{"id":658930,"date":"2026-04-02T14:37:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/658930\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:37:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:37:23","slug":"whos-up-and-whos-down-after-six-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/658930\/","title":{"rendered":"Who\u2019s Up and Who\u2019s Down After Six Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Texas Rangers<\/a> finally return to Globe Life Field after more than a week on the road in Philadelphia and Baltimore.<\/p>\n

The Rangers<\/a> (4-2) won both series with the Phillies and the Orioles and their offensive approach, tweaked in the offseason to improve on-base percentage and basepath traffic, is starting to pay off. <\/p>\n

Along the way, the Rangers<\/a> received a peak performance from a young pitcher, some clutch hits from a 39-year-old slugger and a surprise when it comes to the ninth inning. Plus, there are a couple of hitters that have some improvement to make. <\/p>\n

After six games, here are three players that acquitted themselves well during a 4-2 week and three players that have some work to do. <\/p>\n

Winners<\/p>\n

Year 18, still got it. \ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/HMp37QfCa1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Texas Rangers (@Rangers) March 29, 2026<\/a>DH Andrew McCutchen<\/p>\n

The flier the Rangers took on the former National League MVP in March may be their most valuable transaction of the offseason, assuming he continues to hit like this. Texas found a way to get him into all but one game and he slashed .429\/.467\/.786 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI. His work on Wednesday in right field is key to keeping him on the roster. Texas can\u2019t run a DH platoon with both him and Joc Pederson, even if from an offensive matchup perspective, it makes sense. <\/p>\n

RHP Jack Leiter<\/p>\n

Leiter<\/a> was the first starting pitcher in the rotation to give Texas a quality start when he faced the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. He went six innings, giving up five hits, two earned runs and a walk against eight strikeouts. The gap in walks and strikeouts is encouraging for a pitcher that has worked hard to correct that. Also encouraging? The fact that he used his secondary pitches to dominate the Orioles as opposed to his fastball. <\/p>\n

RHP Tyler Alexander<\/p>\n

The Rangers\u2019 top closer through six games is Alexander, a TCU product who had one three-inning save to his credit before he recorded a pair on the road trip. He bailed Texas out in the 10th inning against the Phillies on Saturday and a spotless inning for the save on Monday. In four games he has a 2.25 ERA with three hits, one earned run allowed and two walks against three strikeouts in four innings. Texas, for now, has another option in the ninth. <\/p>\n

Losers\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Rangers infielder Josh Jung. | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

3B Josh Jung<\/p>\n

Jung was off to a great start at spring training before he suffered a Grade 1 adductor strain. If it\u2019s still an issue, that could explain why he had two hits in 21 at-bats in five games. The Rangers have him the game off on Tuesday. He carries a .095\/.095\/.095 slash into the homestand. Both hits game in Wednesday\u2019s game. If he carries that momentum into the homestand and capitalizes on it, he\u2019ll fall off this list next week. <\/p>\n

DH Joc Pederson<\/p>\n

The Rangers played the matchup game with the DH spot for the first six games. If it was a right-handed pitcher, Texas started Pederson. If a lefty came in the game, the Rangers turned to McCuttchen, who thrived. As for Pederson, he has no batting average going into the homestand, though he drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Of any player on the roster, he has the shortest rope to work with. <\/p>\n

RHP Chris Martin<\/p>\n

The Rangers re-signed Martin to handle the ninth-inning duties alongside Robert Garcia and, so far, it hasn\u2019t gone as hoped. Martin does have a win, but he also has a 10.80 ERA as he\u2019s given up two earned runs and four hits in 1.2 innings. He\u2019s struck out two and walked none. The Rangers have used him three times and he warmed up during another game. It\u2019s not the kind of workload Texas wants from him early. It\u2019s certainly not the effectiveness Martin wants, either. <\/p>\n