How Cal Quantrill, Cody Freeman Helped Rangers During Homestand Playoff Push

The Texas Rangers enter Monday’s action tied for the lead in the American League West with the Houston Astros.

They owe that tie, in part, to the play of pitcher Cal Quantrill and infielder Cody Freeman, both of which were not on the opening-day roster when the Rangers (65-66) headed to Philadelphia to open the season.

Now, the Rangers are heading to Chicago to face the White Sox, who lead the AL Central. Quantrill and Freeman will be along for the ride — and they’re vital to ensuring Texas has a chance to reach the postseason for the first time since 2023.

Cal Quantrill

"I definitely want to be a positive part of the [playoff] push."

Cal Quantrill has a sub-1.0 ERA through 4 starts in August and 15 straight scoreless innings! pic.twitter.com/dspxLqjoCD
— Rangers Sports Network (@RangersSNtv) August 23, 2026

Signed to a minor-league contract and given a Major League spring training invite, he failed to make the opening day roster after Kumar Rocker won the final starting job in the rotation. Quantrill was with the Rangers in mid-April as a long reliever and when Jack Leiter went on the injured list in June, he was the pitcher Texas turned to eat those innings.

But for the past few weeks, he hasn’t been just an innings-eater. He’s been excellent and he won two of the Rangers’ four victories last week.

He took the ball in the first game of the homestand against Washington on Tuesday and he gave up four hits in seven innings of a shutout victory. He struck out five and walked none. He started Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, which was also a win. He pitched six innings, giving up six hits and no runs against six strikeouts.

He also has a 0.72 ERA in four games in August with 21 strikeouts and four walks in 25 innings. Getting him to the Majors in April was the right call.

“I definitely want to be a positive part of the [playoff] push,” he said to Rangers Sports Network after Sunday’s game.

Cody Freeman

Freeman missed most of spring training after he suffered a lumbar stress reaction the first week and needed an extended spring training once he recovered. He was promoted back to the Majors for the first time in June, suffered a herniated disc that required surgery and went back to Triple-A Round Rock before he re-joined the Rangers on their last road trip on Aug. 14.

At this rate he might not go back. He played in all six games during the homestand and went 5-for-13 with his first career triple, along with a run scored and two RBI. In eight games since his promotion, he’s slashing .333/.429/.444 with two RBI.

One of last year’s “Little Rascals,” Freeman played at second base and third base during the homestand, helping the Rangers work through the injury to third baseman Josh Jung, who doesn’t appear to be returning until September.

This is what the Rangers envisioned for Freeman when he made his MLB debut last season. That’s what he delivered during the homestand.

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