2026 Texas Rangers Season Prediction Thread

[WastinSomeTime]

I have the same issue with this team i had last year, lack of bullpen, specifically closer

Yeah, understandable. I am hoping we have some young diamonds in the rough that will surprise us.

 

[saddles]

That was crazy that year. Remember in June our Rangers were below 500 and then they went on that run. Think we won like 60 out of 90 games.
I always had my radio with me getting score updates if I was out playing ball or with my parents.
Fortunaely living up in NE PA I was able to see all the Ranger games against the Yankees and Orioles. We got the two stations that carried those two teams.

That was the same year Lenny Randle sucker-punched Frank Lucchesi over losing his job to Bump Wills.

 

[saddles]

Here are some of my concerns for this year.

The DH Spot

The Rangers seem very stubborn in admitting the mistake they made with Pederson. I am not as certain as some are that they will give up on him in 4 to 6 weeks. Even if they do, that is a major portion of the season with a hole in the lineup.

I am also not sold, like many are, that Andrew McCutchen is the answer. He did not hit RH pitchers well last year and he is 39 years old.

They have Mark Canha waiting at AAA and he doesn't appear to be any kind of answer either. His OPS last year was a lot worse than Pederson's.

The Bullpen

To me, the idea that they are trusting so much to Chris Martin shows just how dire the bullpen situation is. Martin just could not stay healthy last year and he is a year older, now. It has been said that he probably can't pitch on back to back days. Think about that. The Rangers are entrusting the ninth inning, in large part, to a guy who can't pitch on back to back days. It would not be wise to trust any of your bullpen spots to someone with such limitations, much less a closer role.

I do like some of our younger options, but how long will it take before one of those guys are trusted by management. Jeff Wilson has already stated that he actually invoked laughter from Rangers management when he asked about Cole Winn being a possibility for the closer role this year. Even if management decides to trust a young guy, there is no guarantee that that young guy will not struggle more than usual for awhile.

MacKenzie Gore

There are a lot of fans who speak of MacKenzie Gore as if he is a top of the rotation pitcher. Some consider him a soon-to-be ace. Yet, he has had an ERA above 4.00 for 3 of his 4 seasons, including last year. The one time it was below that mark was in 2024 when his ERA was 3.90. I am not afraid that Gore will be awful, by any means. I do think he has pitched more like a 4th starter on a playoff team. To me, he is our 4th best starting pitcher, right now, and when Bradford gets back he may be our 5th best starting pitcher. If Rocker gets it together, Gore might eventually be our 6th best starting pitcher. He could take a step forward, but there is no more guarantee of that, than someone like Rocker taking a step or three forward.

Evan Carter

I am still concerned with Evan Carter slumping so much in the last couple of weeks of spring training. This is the least of my stated concerns, but I would love to see him get off to a good start and ease my concerns. I think the Rangers need Evan Carter in a bad way.

 

[saddles]

Two of the five USA Today writers have the Rangers being a wildcard. They all picked the Mariners to win the division.

 

[saddles]

From Jamey Newberg:

STARTING PITCHERS (5): Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker

PREDICTION: Cody Bradford will end up top five on the team in starts. And they will be very good.

RELIEF PITCHERS (8): Tyler Alexander, Carter Baumler, Jalen Beeks, Robert Garcia, Jakob Junis, Jacob Latz, Chris Martin, Cole Winn

PREDICTION: Winn will lead the team in second-half (and postseason) saves.

CATCHER (2): Kyle Higashioka, Danny Jansen

PREDICTION: Willie MacIver will make at least 20 starts. Austin Hedges will make five.

INFIELDERS (5): Jake Burger, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Jung, Corey Seager, Josh Smith

PREDICTION: Four of the five need big bounceback seasons. Burger complies the most resoundingly.

OUTFIELDERS (4): Evan Carter, Sam Haggerty, Wyatt Langford, Brandon Nimmo

PREDICTION: Nimmo will much better (offensively) than Adolis Garcia was last year. Carter will much better (offensively) than Carter was last year. Langford will much better (offensively) than Langford was last year — and will benefit from the ABS system as much as Seager benefited a few years ago from the elimination of the shift.

DESIGNATED HITTERS (2): Andrew McCutchen, Joc Pederson

PREDICTION: The duo will be paid a combined $19.75 million this season. The one earning 6.3 percent of that number outlasts the other one.

TEXAS RANGERS (2026):

PREDICTION: 87 wins and a Wild Card berth, with Pete Fairbanks finishing one save short of Winn.

Wild Card berths — and World Series titles — tend to happen when the Rangers open against the Phillies. So, you know.

 

[Kelleyman]

How many wins?

89 —-could be plus or minus 5 depending on how closer fares
If we rely on Garcia and Martin for a full,season then my projection is high
If another emerges be it Winn Gavin C or unknown like Cater B.we could go above 90

 

[Kelleyman]

I think this is the perfect environment for Gore to excel. Newt mentors. Better defense and the pitcher friendly Globe. He may not end up being better than Leiter and that maybe that Leiter has a great year. I would put Gore ahead of Latzand Bradford stuff wise and Kumar due to polish.

SP is bug bright spot for Rangers and might carry team to plsoffs and beyond if pen is at least average

 

[Duane1952]

I have the same issue with this team i had last year, lack of bullpen, specifically closer

You would think they would have learned their lesson last season. 2 years in a row without a true closer. They probably would have won 10 matches re games with a good closer last season.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

You would think they would have learned their lesson last season. 2 years in a row without a true closer. They probably would have won 10 matches re games with a good closer last season.

You would think so but they really didn't have one in 2023 either as they started off with Luke Jackson. Yates surprised everyone in 2024 as they fell into that one. I think they keep hoping that happens again.

 

[scotsman#1948]

82 - 82 mainly based on a not very strong bullpen

 

[armadillooutlaw]

2026 Texas Rangers Season Predictions

Below is a series of questions that you can feel free to copy and paste and then include your answers. It is always fun to guess what will happen. You can answer all of the questions or just some of them. The more who participate in this, the better.

Record: 88-74
Place: 2nd
Postseason -- Yes or No? Yes, as a Wild Card
Team ROY: Baumler
Team MVP Seager

Team Leaders

Batting (Name + Number)
HR: Seager, 35
RBI: Langford, 98
BA: Seager, .305
OPS: Seager, 890
SB: Langford, 25

Pitching (Name + Number)
W: Eovaldi, 15
ERA(minimum 15 starts): Eovaldi, 2.75
K: Gore, 200
Saves: 3, Bruce Bochy


Miscellaneous Questions


Will the Rangers return to the World Series this year?
No

How many games will Jake deGrom start this season?
20

Which of our starting pitchers will have 25 or more starts this year?
Eovaldi, Gore, Leiter

Which of our starting pitchers will have more than 15 starts this year?
Eovaldi, deGrom, Gore, Leiter, Rocker, Bradford

Will Cody Bradford come back healthy and stay mostly healthy until the end of the season?
Yes
How many games will Evan Carter start this season?
120
How many plate appearances will Evan Carter get vs. lefties this year?
80-ish
Will the Rangers be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
Buyers
Will the Rangers trade for a closer at the deadline?
Yes
How many games will Andrew McCutchen start in the OF this season?
Less than 50.

Which player, who is on the roster to begin the season, has the best chance to be traded this year?
Pederson
Will Josh Smith hit .280 or better this season?
Just under - 275
Will Joc Pederson still be on the team on May 16, 2026? If not, when do you expect him to lose his roster spot? What will his final batting average be?
Not sure, but he won't make it past the deadline, ad the very least
Will Chris Martin get hurt so many times that the Rangers DFA him?


Will the Rangers make a blockbuster trade at the deadline(Blockbuster defined as one of our top five prospects and one top ten prospect being included)?

Which pitching prospect will get the most starts for the Rangers this season?

Who will be the Rangers saves leader this year?

Which player starting the year in the minors will have the biggest impact on the team?

Which two players will be the most pleasant surprises this season?

Which player will be the most disappointing surprise this season?

Which 2 to 4 minor leaguers, will do the most this season to put themselves into the conversation as being significant contributors for the Rangers in 2026?

Which prospect, who starts off in the minors, will get the most time in the big leagues this year?

Will the Rangers pick Vahn Lackey in the draft if he is still available?

What other miscellaneous thoughts do you have about what you are expecting this season?

 

[armadillooutlaw]

2026 Texas Rangers Season Predictions

Below is a series of questions that you can feel free to copy and paste and then include your answers. It is always fun to guess what will happen. You can answer all of the questions or just some of them. The more who participate in this, the better.

Record: 88-74
Place: 2nd
Postseason -- Yes or No? Yes, as a Wild Card
Team ROY: Baumler
Team MVP Seager

Team Leaders

Batting (Name + Number)
HR: Seager, 35
RBI: Langford, 98
BA: Seager, .305
OPS: Seager, 890
SB: Langford, 25

Pitching (Name + Number)
W: Eovaldi, 15
ERA(minimum 15 starts): Eovaldi, 2.75
K: Gore, 200
Saves: 3, Bruce Bochy


Miscellaneous Questions


Will the Rangers return to the World Series this year?
No

How many games will Jake deGrom start this season?
20

Which of our starting pitchers will have 25 or more starts this year?
Eovaldi, Gore, Leiter

Which of our starting pitchers will have more than 15 starts this year?
Eovaldi, deGrom, Gore, Leiter, Rocker, Bradford

Will Cody Bradford come back healthy and stay mostly healthy until the end of the season?
Yes
How many games will Evan Carter start this season?
120
How many plate appearances will Evan Carter get vs. lefties this year?
80-ish
Will the Rangers be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
Buyers
Will the Rangers trade for a closer at the deadline?
Yes
How many games will Andrew McCutchen start in the OF this season?
Less than 50.

Which player, who is on the roster to begin the season, has the best chance to be traded this year?
Pederson
Will Josh Smith hit .280 or better this season?
Just under - 275
Will Joc Pederson still be on the team on May 16, 2026? If not, when do you expect him to lose his roster spot? What will his final batting average be?
Not sure, but he won't make it past the deadline, ad the very least. His final batting average will be around .200.
Will Chris Martin get hurt so many times that the Rangers DFA him?
Probably. He's made of glass.

Will the Rangers make a blockbuster trade at the deadline(Blockbuster defined as one of our top five prospects and one top ten prospect being included)?
Maybe. Not sure.
Which pitching prospect will get the most starts for the Rangers this season?
Probably Corniell
Who will be the Rangers saves leader this year?
In all seriousness, I'll say Winn.
Which player starting the year in the minors will have the biggest impact on the team?
Osuna.
Which two players will be the most pleasant surprises this season? Baumler and Rocker.

Which player will be the most disappointing surprise this season?
Josh Jung. Sadly, I think he falls out of favor and ends up getting traded. He doesn't have that same confidence of 2023.
Which 2 to 4 minor leaguers, will do the most this season to put themselves into the conversation as being significant contributors for the Rangers in 2026?
Osuna, Teodo and possibly Corniell.
Which prospect, who starts off in the minors, will get the most time in the big leagues this year?
Teodo.
Will the Rangers pick Vahn Lackey in the draft if he is still available?

What other miscellaneous thoughts do you have about what you are expecting this season?
Loaded pitching, lack closer, need moar hitting.

 

[comet28]

82 - 82 mainly based on a not very strong bullpen

Certainly bold to predict we play 164 regular-season games

 

[scotsman#1948]

Certainly bold to predict we play 164 regular-season games

got me didn't proffread my post

81-81

 

[comet28]

got me didn't proffread my post

81-81

Well technically they could make the playoffs at 82-80 and lose the WC series 0-2…