Texas Rangers Rise in Power Rankings, Still Trail Astros

The Texas Rangers just keep rising, even if they still sit behind a squad they handled rather decisively on their wildly successful road trip.

The Rangers returned to Arlington confident after a 5-1 trek that started with a series win at the defending champion Houston Astros. Minute Maid Park is usually a house of horrors for Texas, but Bruce Bochy’s squad took two of three games there last weekend.

Despite that series victory and a three-game sweep at the Kansas City Royals, the American League West-leading Rangers (12-6) only moved up one spot to No. 11 in the ESPN’s third MLB Power Rankings of the regular season.

Per ESPN:

How long before we declare Texas for real? Its run differential is second only to the Rays in the AL – and the team hasn't felt the impact of the loss of Corey Seager just yet. The Rangers won two of three in Houston over the weekend – a place they traditionally struggle – and then proceeded to pitch and hit their way to another series win in Kansas City.

All true, but somehow a nearly perfect roadie only meant a minor jump from No. 12 after the second week. More curiously, the Astros (9-10) are No. 7 despite a losing record. Houston was No. 2 the week before.

Maybe it’s not time to declare the Rangers for real, but there’s no denying the club is off to its best start in a decade and owns the second-best record in the AL.

The rankings from the rest of the AL West: Seattle Mariners (16), Los Angeles Angels (17) and Oakland Athletics (30).

ESPN did note the tear that Texas’ star second baseman has been on.

Marcus Semien is on fire, hitting three home runs and compiling a 1.278 OPS over the past seven days. His grand slam against the Astros put an exclamation mark on that series. Manager Bruce Bochy has his team rolling.

The Rangers and Oakland open a three-game series Friday night (7:10 p.m.) at Globe Life Field. Texas will be wearing its new Nike City Connect uniforms for the first two games.

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