The Rangers have really struggled against the NL since the start of last season, both at the plate and on the mound.

Rangers Since 2020, Stats in Interleague Games w/MLB Ranks

Record          9-26 (.257)       last

Runs/Gm         3.54 (124/35)     last

Opp Runs/Gm     5.51          2nd-highest (LAA, 5.76)

AVG             .203           2nd-lowest (Sea, .2026)

OPS             .631           2nd-lowest (Sea, .628)

The Rockies swept the Rangers at Coors Field in June, allowing a .167 batting average in the three-game series.

 

The Rockies took two of three at the Dodgers over the weekend for just their second road series win of the year. This inched them ahead of the Diamondbacks, who have the worst road series record this season; both clubs are on track to rank in the bottom three for any season since 1990.

MLB, Lowest Series Win Pct on Road in a Season - Since 1990

(Minimum 2 games in series)

2020 Texas Rangers                 1-9-0  .100

2021 Arizona Diamondbacks         2-18-2  .136

2021 Colorado Rockies             2-17-2  .143

2020 Pittsburgh Pirates            1-8-1  .150

2018 Baltimore Orioles            3-21-2  .154

2014 Colorado Rockies             3-21-2  .154

2012 Houston Astros               4-22-0  .154

C.J. Cron hit a three-run blast in the first inning last night, his 10th HR of the month. He is one of only five Rockies with 10+ HR, 10+ walks and 30+ RBI in a single month.

 

Rockies, 10+ HR, 10+ BB & 30+ RBI In Calendar Month – All-Time

                                HR     BB    RBI

Larry Walker, June 1999         10     10     30

Preston Wilson, Jul 2003        11     10     34

Matt Holliday, Sept 2006        10     16     34

Matt Holliday, Sept 2007        12     11     30

Nolan Arenado, Aug 2016         10     18     36

C.J. Cron, Aug 2021             10     12     33

 

Cron is slugging .814 this month, highest in MLB (minimum 50 PA).  

 

Adolis Garcia leads the Rangers in RBI and runs scored. Only four AL Rookies have done that since 1980 and each was named Rookie of the Year.

 

AL Rookies Leading Team in RBI & Runs – Since 1980

                                 RBI   Runs

2021 Adolis Garcia, Tex          77     65

2017 Aaron Judge, NYY           114    128 ß Won ROY

1997 Nomar Garciaparra, Bos      98    122 ß Won ROY

1987 Mark McGwire, Oak          118     97 ß Won ROY

1986 Jose Canseco, Oak          117     85 ß Won ROY

Other notable AL rookies to lead their team in RBI and runs are Fred Lynn for Boston in 1975 (who won Rookie of the Year and MVP that season) and Ted Williams for Boston in 1939.

 

After several trade deadline moves, the Rangers are now the youngest team in MLB.

Youngest Average Age of Active Rosters, as of August 30

                            Yrs  Days

Texas Rangers                26   348

Cleveland Indians            27   102

Pittsburgh Pirates           27   229

Baltimore Orioles            27   330

Miami Marlins                28    39

The Rangers have the youngest average age for position players (26 years, 34 days) and the third-youngest pitching staff (27 years, 252 days).

Colorado’s bullpen has been much better over the past 2+ weeks after a rough patch immediately following the All-Star Break.

Rockies Bullpen Since All-Star Break – First 21 vs. Last 18

                    First 21        Last 18

ERA                     6.11           3.61 (25/62.1)

Opp. AVG                .260           .231

Opp. SLG                .462           .368

Opp. OPS                .801           .686

HR Allowed/9            1.71           0.87

 

German Marquez is hoping to reverse this odd trend of pitching very well at Coors Field and poorly on the road.

German Marquez, Home vs. Road Stats w/ MLB Difference Rank

(Ranks among ERA qualifiers; home better than road)

                    Home      Road      Diff      MLB Rank

Win Pct             .800      .300      .500       largest

ERA                 3.13      5.31      2.18    3rd-largest

Opp. AVG            .200      .267      .067       largest

Opp. SLG            .313      .428      .115    6th-largest

Opp. OPS            .591      .752      .161    6th-largest

Marquez has a 1.93 ERA in three career starts vs. Texas, his second-lowest ERA against any opponent with multiple starts (1.76 vs. Pittsburgh).

 

A.J. Alexy is expected to make his MLB debut for the Rangers tonight as Texas has three of its starting pitchers on the COVID-IL. Alexy will be the third different Ranger to start in his MLB debut over the past week, something that has only happened three times after the first month of a season since WWII.

 

3 Starters to Make MLB Debut in 1-Week Span – Since 1940

(Excluding first month of season)

Rangers        Aug 25-29, 2021  (J.Latz, G.Otto, A.Alexy*)

Rockies        June 6-11, 2014  (E.Butler, C.Bergman, T.Matzek)

Padres        Sept 17-21, 1986  (E.Vosberg, R.Hayward, J.Jones)

Cardinals  Sept 27-Oct 1, 1969  (J.Reuss, S.Guzman, R.Cleveland)

*Assuming A.J. Alexy starts on Monday