Texas Rangers news: Updated playoff odds, top prospect Evan Carter debut, and more

Over the last three weeks, each night that I watch or listen to the Texas Rangers, I feel like I am witnessing the movie Groundhog Day. Each game is obviously unique, but what hasn't been unique is the fact that the Rangers are finding every possible way to lose ballgames that they can. Sometimes it's the offense is struggling, many times the pitching is giving up too many runs, and other times they just can't make defensive plays to get out of innings. Many times, it has been all of the above.

Despite the struggles that the Rangers find themselves in, they still control their own destiny when it comes to the playoffs. If they can somehow figure out how to win again, this team could put the organization back in the postseason for the first time since 2016. I know that when a team has won only four games in their last 20 contests, yes you read that correctly, it is hard to think about the playoffs at all. Que the great Jim Mora quote.

"Playoffs? Are you kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope that we can win a game."

- Jim Mora - Indianapolis Colts coach 2001

The odds that Texas is actually able to make the playoffs has been dropping rapidly. As the Rangers have seemingly forgotten how to win a game, their competition (Houston, Seattle, and Toronto) have been doing their fair share of winning. On August 15th, Fangraphs gave the Rangers a 56.8% chance to win the AL West and 95.1% to make the playoffs. Well, Texas isn't quite there anymore.

In the updated Fangraphs predictions after dropping a home game to the lowly Oakland Athletics last night, the Rangers currently sit at 3.2% chance to win the AL West and 38.6% to make the playoffs. Texas is trailing Houston by three games and Seattle by 2.5 in the AL West. They are also trailing Toronto by 1.5 games for the third and final wild card spot. There is still a chance that the boys get out of the ditch, but if they can't win, and win a lot over the last three weeks of the season, there will be no postseason baseball for the Rangers for at least another year.

Adolis Garcia had to go on the 10-day IL with an injured knee that he sustained in Wednesday's game against Houston. That meant that top prospect, Evan Carter would be called up and make his debut last night. Many fans have been clamoring to have Carter join Texas for the stretch run, but unfortunately the move was forced because of the injury to one of the team's best hitters.

Carter wasted little time recording his first hit, as he picked it up in his first ever at bat in the bottom of the second inning. He then picked up his first stolen base, as he swiped second base in the same half inning.

Listed as the number one prospect in the Rangers organization and the number eight prospect in all of baseball by MLB pipeline, there is much hype around the strong, lanky kid from Elizabethton, TN. Selected by the Rangers in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft out of high school, the unheralded prospect has shot up the rankings every step along the way. Carter just turned 21-years-old the end of last month (August 29th), but shows maturity beyond his years.

Hopefully his time with the big club will help him be ready to take over one of the outfield positions going into next season. With both he and Wyatt Langford pushing their way up the minor leagues system, and in Carters case making his major league debut, the outfield for the Rangers seems to be in good hands moving forward.

From here on out, the Rangers need to win, and win often. In Saturday nights contest against Oakland, Texas will hand the ball back to Nathan Eovaldi in his second outing since spending an extended period of time on the IL. Eovaldi started the game on Tuesday of this week, but only threw 35 pitches, gave up four runs, on five hits (2 of which left the yard), one walk, had one strikeout, while picking up the loss.

The start on Tuesday, was the equivalent of a rehab assignment or bullpen session, so the Rangers will toss him the ball on just three days rest and see if he can right the ship. The key word or mantra for the Rangers over the next 22 games should be win. They must dig deep and relentlessly focus on winning the at bat, winning the matchup when pitching, playing winning defense, and ultimately winning games. It has been a fun summer, and let's hope that the club can finish with a flurry of wins and not go down with a whimper.