The Texas Rangers are facing a familiar, unsettling feeling as the 2025 season heads into its final stretch: a sense of déjà vu reminiscent of the 1993 season. The echoes of that year, filled with both promise and disappointment, are growing louder as the current team navigates a challenging playoff landscape.
In 1993, the Rangers, led by manager Kevin Kennedy, finished with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses, placing them second in the American League West. Despite a strong showing, they ultimately missed the playoffs. The season was marked by the final year of pitching legend Nolan Ryan, and memorable, bizarre moments such as Jose Canseco's infamous head injury while fielding a fly ball.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Rangers find themselves in a similar position. As of August 26, 2025, their record stands at 63-65, placing them third in the AL West. They are 5.5 games out of the final wild-card spot. According to FanGraphs, their playoff chances are at 34.9%. Just like 1993, the team is facing challenges, including injuries to key players, making the road to the postseason a difficult one.
The most recent blow came with the announcement that starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is likely out for the remainder of the season with a rotator cuff strain. Eovaldi, who was having an impressive year with an 11-3 record and a 1.73 ERA, is a significant loss to the team's pitching rotation.
The Rangers' remaining schedule includes 15 games against teams with winning records, further complicating their path to the playoffs. To secure a wild-card spot, some analysts estimate that the Rangers need to win approximately 86 games. This would require them to win 20 of their final 30 games, a feat that seems daunting given their current form and the tough competition they face.
The 2023 season saw the Rangers achieve the ultimate goal, winning the World Series. However, they failed to make the playoffs in 2024. As the team fights for a playoff spot in 2025, the pressure is on to avoid another disappointing end to the season. The offense has been inconsistent, a key vulnerability that needs to be addressed if they hope to make a deep playoff run.
Despite the challenges, the Rangers have strengths to build upon. Their pitching and fielding have been solid. The team needs to capitalize on these strengths and find consistency on offense to close the gap in the wild-card standings.
Whether the 2025 Texas Rangers can rewrite the ending and achieve postseason success remains to be seen. The road ahead is tough, but the team has the talent and potential to defy the odds.
