MILWAUKEE — Despite their recent winning streak, the Texas Rangers have encountered a pressing challenge: achieving perfection on the mound. This impossible expectation seemed all the more critical in their latest game against the Milwaukee Brewers, where starter Andrew Heaney’s performance underscored the team’s current dilemma. Heaney, who lasted five innings giving up two runs, felt the weight of the Rangers’ 3-1 loss, highlighting the team’s struggle for offensive support.
Perfection in pitching is a rarity in baseball, but the Rangers have found themselves in situations where anything less seems insufficient. Texas’s four-game win streak prior to facing Milwaukee had masked the mounting pressure their pitchers face, a pressure amplified by the team’s lackluster offense.
Manager Bruce Bochy, however, sees no added strain on his pitchers, including Heaney. “I’m not seeing that,” Bochy stated, emphasizing that Heaney’s five-inning stint is within the team’s expectation for starting pitchers. He believes that while Heaney and the rotation have performed adequately, it’s the offense that needs to step up.
This season has been particularly challenging for Heaney, who has received minimal run support. In 14 starts in 2024, he’s had two or fewer runs of support in 10, leading to an average of just 3.33 runs of support per game. Despite this, Heaney insists that the lack of offensive backing doesn’t alter his approach on the mound.
The Rangers’ offense has indeed been muted, especially noticeable in late-game situations. This was evident in their consecutive losses to the Brewers, where early leads were squandered, and comeback opportunities were missed. With a 2-29 record when trailing after six innings, the struggle to reverse deficits is apparent.
Bochy highlighted the quality of opposing bullpens as a factor in their inability to rally late in games, noting the Brewers’ bullpen as among the best. Still, he insists the Rangers need to find ways to overcome these challenges.
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Recent statistics paint a grim picture of the Rangers’ offensive woes. Since May 10, over 39 games, they’ve seen a significant dip in batting averages and slugging percentages, marking them as one of the lowest-performing teams offensively during this stretch. This slump has also affected their batting average with runners in scoring position, further illustrating the disconnect between the potential for scoring and actual runs produced.
Despite these struggles, both Bochy and Heaney believe in the team’s ability to turn their fortunes around. Daily meetings among hitters, akin to those of the pitchers, underscore a collective effort to improve. Heaney, expressing confidence in his teammates, underscores the need for the team to compile wins to reverse their recent form.
With the clubhouse maintaining a positive outlook, the Rangers hope to address their offensive challenges head-on. The sense of urgency is implicit every time they take the field, aiming to balance their solid pitching with the much-needed offensive firepower to secure more wins.
