World Series Preview: Texas Rangers to Watch

While Adolis García was destroying Astros pitching for the latter half of the ALCS, Semien was struggling at the plate. In 12 postseason games Semien is slashing just .192/.276/.231/.507 with two doubles and two RBI. He’s also drawn six walks. During the regular season he slashed .276/.348/.478/.826 with 29 home runs and 100 RBI.

Semien is the only hitter in the order that hasn’t managed to unlock himself this postseason. During the regular season he had short slumps, but nothing quite like this. If the Rangers win this series, Semien has to play a part. Don’t count on the Rangers dropping him out of the leadoff spot. He’s a pro. He’ll have to fight his way out of it.

You know who leads the Rangers in postseason RBI? OK, you actually know that. Do you know who is No. 2? It’s not who you think. It’s Garver, who has 11 RBI in just nine postseason games. He’s batting nearly .300 for the postseason. He’s also doubled twice and homered twice.

He broke out of a mini-slump in Houston, after Rangers manager Bruce Bochy dropped Garver and catcher Jonah Heim to the bottom of the order to shake up the offense. It helped. Garver seemed to perk up after that. By August, Garver appeared to figure out how to be a full-time DH and it’s carried over into the postseason.

With Nathan Eovaldi up for Game 1 and Jordan Montgomery likely up for Game 2, the ball will probably fall into Scherzer’s hands in Game 3 out in Arizona, which oddly enough is where he broke into the Majors.

The Rangers are lucky to have Scherzer based on the expected recovery time for his injury. His numbers don’t look great — 6 2/3 innings, nine hits allowed, seven runs allowed. But the majority of that came in his first start in Game 3 against the Astros.

The quality of his pitching improved in Game 7, even though he didn’t last three innings. The Rangers need him to keep progressing and look a little more like himself in the World Series.

Earlier this year, just about every Rangers fan was ready to designate Sborz for assignment. His ERA in the month of July was stratospheric. Now it’s time to give Sborz his flowers. He’s pitched in eight postseason games, throwing 8 2/3 innings and posting a 1.04 ERA. He’s allowed just two hits and one run, with seven strikeouts and four walks.

He’s become the trusted bridge between the starters and the back of the bullpen. It’s a far cry from the struggles he had at times in the regular season and he has become the bullpen’s most unexpected turnaround this season. 

There isn’t much else to say about Bochy at this point. He is aiming for his fourth World Series title, which would put him elite company with managers like Casey Stengel and Walter Alston. Bochy has never lost a Game 7. He has evolved with the new rules of the game.

And he owes the Rangers one. His first World Series title in 2010 with the San Francisco Giants came at the Rangers’ expense in the ballpark that sits across the street from Globe Life Field. 

Friday: Game 1 Arizona at Texas, FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Saturday: Game 2 Arizona at Texas, FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Monday: Game 3 Texas at Arizona, FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Tuesday: Game 4 Texas at Arizona, FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Wednesday: Game 5 Texas at Arizona (if necessary), FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Friday, Nov. 3: Game 6 Arizona at Texas (if necessary), FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Saturday, Nov. 4: Game 7 Arizona at Texas (if necessary), FOX (7:03 p.m.)