Texas Rangers Rely On Power Behind Balanced Lineup This Season

The Texas Rangers will have to lean into their power if they hope to find consistent success during this 2023 MLB season.

Author:
Andy Jasner
Apr 4, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

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Texas Rangers

Baltimore Orioles

The Texas Rangers are more powerful this season.

Literally.

Their top four hitters – Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia – all hit at least 26 home runs last season. Semien hit a leadoff homer in Saturday's 16-3 blowout win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Rangers swept the season-opening series against the Phillies and outscored the defending National League champions 27-10 in the first two games.

Even Mitch Garver blasted two homers on Saturday for his eighth career multi-homer game and his first since coming to Texas.

“You look around the room, even from last year to this year, guys are making huge leaps,” Garver said. “Top to bottom, our lineup can bang. It's really fun when we tie it all together. …. It’s just a pretty potent lineup.”

Garver, Robbie Grossman and Josh Jung add some big-time depth to the top four hitters. There just aren’t weaknesses anymore. Opposing staffs can’t pitch around as much as they have in the past.

“It's a deep lineup,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “You look at the back end, (Brad) Miller hit a home run (on Opening Day), (Josh) Smith gives you good at-bats, I mean, it's a lineup that can do damage everywhere throughout the lineup. It’s a lineup that doesn’t just depend on your core guys. That’s the way you have success on the offensive side. It’s a fun lineup to watch.”

Being healthy is huge especially for Garver, who won a Silver Slugger Award in 2019 with the Minnesota Twins when he slashed .273/.365/.630.

Garver has dealt with a myriad of injuries since, but looks to be 100 percent now.

It was mildly surprising that the Rangers managed just one hit in a 2-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Those types of games happen when the opposing pitchers are simply better.

The Rangers (3-1) and Orioles (2-2) continue the three-game series Tuesday night. Andrew Heaney makes his first start for Texas against Tyler Wells for Baltimore. First pitch at Globe Life Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.

If this Rangers lineup stays off the injured list, it looks to be as potent as any in the American League. And it’s not just home runs, but extra base hits as well.

They’ll be able to help win games when foes don’t have their best stuff.

It’s a short sample size for sure, but a very impressive one nonetheless power-wise.

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