Series Thread: Rangers Travel to Chicago to Play the White Sox For Three Games August 24-26

[saddles]

The Rangers will face the White Sox, and unlike the last couple of years, the White Sox are anything but lowly this year. The Rangers will send Rocker, deGrom and Gore to the mound.

As of right now, the Rangers have the toughest remaining strength of schedule in the American League.

As of right now, they are only a tiebreaker from both first place in the division and in being the current holder of the third wildcard spot.

In the last thread I tried to predict the win-loss record for the teams we are competing with for the AL West and the final wildcard spot. Here is what I predicted before the weekend games.

Astros 81-81
Toronto 81-81
Cleveland 81-81
Minnesota 81-81
Mariners 80-82
Texas 78-84
Detroit78-84
Baltimore 78-84

Here is the difference between how many games each team won this weekend compared to what I thought they would win.

Rangers =
Astros -1
Cleveland +1
Blue Jays =
Twins -1
Orioles +1
Tigers -2

So, over the weekend Cleveland and the Orioles did better than I predicted. The Rangers and Blue Jays did exactly as I predicted they would. The Astros and Twins each won one game less that I thought they would, and the Tigers won 2 less games than I predicted.

Here are my adjusted predictions for season records for these teams. They are adjusted by what each team did over the weekend compared to what I thought they would do. My new predictions are:

Astros 80-82
Toronto 81-81
Cleveland 82-80
Minnesota 80-82
Mariners 81-81
Texas 78-84
Detroit 76-86
Baltimore 79-84

That would have Seattle winning the division. It also has Cleveland securing the final wildcard spot. Seattle and Cleveland have done the best among these 8 teams over their last 10 games. They have both gone 6-4. The Tigers have been the worst in that span. They went 2-8.

Three days ago, I had the Rangers losing the division by 3 games. That remains the same except for who wins the division.

Again, I know no one can predict all of this. This is just an exercise that I have done to keep in mind where the Rangers fit in over rhe rest of the season.

 

[saddles]

From Michael Tepid:

3 more hits tonight for Dylan Dreiling and it feels like he's moving towards a Rangers Minor League Player of the Year award. Hitting .313 with a .916 OPS and he's played CF in 75% of Frisco's games. It's a breakout I didn't see coming, but that's why we watch!

 

[saddles]

From The Prospect Times:

Sebastian Walcott went 1-for-2 with 3 walks, 2 stolen bases and 4 runs tonight.

 

[saddles]

Not Rangers related, but MLB Pipeline has this about my favorite non-Rangers prospect.

"August has been a month of two-homer games for Walker Jenkins."

"MLB's No. 15 prospect (#MNTwins) logged his second in the past four games at Triple-A:" atmlb.com/3UgmsK7

Some day I hope we make him Walker Texas Ranger.

 

[saddles]

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Some really good performances from 4 of The Frisco Five. Overall they went 9 for 19 with 5 walks. Dreiling had a double. Walcott had 2 stolen bases and Perich had one as well.

 

[saddles]

For Round Rock:

2 more hits for Cauley including a HR.
3 walks for John Taylor.

Keep an eye on Anthony Veneziano. He atarted today and went 5 shutout innings. He is 28 years old and has some big league experience. His MLB ERA is 3.98. He has never started in the big leagues with the exception of being an Opener once.

He has done well at AAA. Almost all of his pitching atats have improved this year and some significantly. His K/9 rate is the only thing that is slightly down, but overall he seems much improved. He will be 29 years old in a few days. The Rangers signed him as a minor league free agent late last fall and then released him in January. About a month ago they signed him again.

 

[saddles]

I would imagine if another starting pitcher goes down that the Rangers might bring up Anthony Veneziano.

 

[saddles]

I wouldn't mind the Rangers taking this kid with their first pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. He most likely doesn't stay at catcher, but who cares.

From MLB Draft:

Daniel Jackson is the 2026 Golden Spikes Award winner!


The @BaseballUGA catcher won the collegiate Triple Crown this season.

From MLB Pipeline this evening:

Daniel Jackson records a career-high 4 hits for the Single-A @FresnoGrizzlies!

The 2026 Golden Spikes Award winner (@BaseballUGA) is slashing .385/.520/.692 in 11 games since being selected 37th overall by the @Rockies:

 

[saddles]

MLB Pipeline says rhe Rangers have the 10th best group of infielders in their farm system. They failed to memtion Rafe Perich, though.


10. Texas Rangers
Sidelined for much of the year following internal brace surgery, shortstop Sebastian Walcott (MLB No. 9) played his first full Double-A season at age 19 and comes with some of the best raw power and arm strength in the Minors. International shortstops Yolfran Castillo and Daniel Rodriguez display all-around skills and uncommon polish for teenagers. Projected third baseman Connor Comeau was one of the best hitters in the 2026 high school class, while third baseman Elian Rosario was one of the top power prospects on this year's international market. The Rangers have not one but two two-way prospects in shortstop/right-handers Seong-Jun Kim and Josh Owens.

 

[saddles]

The next series' for our competitors are as follows.

Houston plays the Yankees on the road
Seattle plays the Phillies at home
Cleveland plays the Angels on the road
Toronto plays KC at home
Minnesota plays the Athletics on the road
Baltimore plays St. Louis on the road
Detroit plays Tampa Bay at home

 

[saddles]

From Mark Feinsand:

The Astros announced that the club and General Manager Dana Brown have mutually agreed to part ways. Brown’s contract was set to expire at the end of the 2026 season.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

For Round Rock:

2 more hits for Cauley including a HR.
3 walks for John Taylor.

Keep an eye on Anthony Veneziano. He atarted today and went 5 shutout innings. He is 28 years old and has some big league experience. His MLB ERA is 3.98. He has never started in the big leagues with the exception of being an Opener once.

He has done well at AAA. Almost all of his pitching atats have improved this year and some significantly. His K/9 rate is the only thing that is slightly down, but overall he seems much improved. He will be 29 years old in a few days. The Rangers signed him as a minor league free agent late last fall and then released him in January. About a month ago they signed him again.

I noticed what Veneziano did last night and I was going to ask you about him.

 

[saddles]

From Joel Sherman:

The AL West has no winning teams, but lead the majors in fired heads of baseball operations: Brown (Astros), Forst (A's), Minasian (Angels).

 

[saddles]

From Texas Rangers PR:

Congratulations to Triple-A Round Rock INF/OF Cam Cauley, who was selected Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for August 17-23.

This marks the third consecutive instance of a Round Rock player earning a weekly league honor:

Aug. 3-9: LHP Dalton Pence (PCL Pitcher of Week)
Aug. 10-16: RHP David Davalillo (PCL Pitcher of Week)
Aug. 17-23: INF/OF Cam Cauley (PCL Player of Week)

 

[Kelleyman]

MLB Pipeline says rhe Rangers have the 10th best group of infielders in their farm system. They failed to memtion Rafe Perich, though.


10. Texas Rangers
Sidelined for much of the year following internal brace surgery, shortstop Sebastian Walcott (MLB No. 9) played his first full Double-A season at age 19 and comes with some of the best raw power and arm strength in the Minors. International shortstops Yolfran Castillo and Daniel Rodriguez display all-around skills and uncommon polish for teenagers. Projected third baseman Connor Comeau was one of the best hitters in the 2026 high school class, while third baseman Elian Rosario was one of the top power prospects on this year's international market. The Rangers have not one but two two-way prospects in shortstop/right-handers Seong-Jun Kim and Josh Owens.

Well that does not bode well for their judgement

 

[Kelleyman]

From Texas Rangers PR:

Congratulations to Triple-A Round Rock INF/OF Cam Cauley, who was selected Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for August 17-23.

This marks the third consecutive instance of a Round Rock player earning a weekly league honor:

Aug. 3-9: LHP Dalton Pence (PCL Pitcher of Week)
Aug. 10-16: RHP David Davalillo (PCL Pitcher of Week)
Aug. 17-23: INF/OF Cam Cauley (PCL Player of Week)

Thinking he is our utility player next year

 

[Kelleyman]

From Mark Feinsand:

The Astros announced that the club and General Manager Dana Brown have mutually agreed to part ways. Brown’s contract was set to expire at the end of the 2026 season.

Read where they are not renewing Espadas contract either

 

[Kelleyman]

The next series' for our competitors are as follows.

Houston plays the Yankees on the road
Seattle plays the Phillies at home
Cleveland plays the Angels on the road
Toronto plays KC at home
Minnesota plays the Athletics on the road
Baltimore plays St. Louis on the road
Detroit plays Tampa Bay at home

Cleveland has it easy. Rangers if they take 2 of 3 are looking good IMO
JDG and Gore have looked good lately. Pen could be the downfall but hope Peoples is in and Leiter back soon

 

[saddles]

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[jaar01]

This road trip is really tough for a bad offense like Texas. And Venable knows our guys pretty well.

Honestly I think we go 1-2 in Chicago and get swept by Milwaukee.