While the Texas Rangers didn't come away with a win on Sunday at Citi Field against the New York Mets, they have a big series ahead starting Monday night against the American League West Division's second-place team, the Houston Astros.
That's right, Rangers fans. The Astros fell into second on Sunday after losing 8-3 to the Atlanta Braves in their series finale in Atlanta. But the Seattle Mariners have been scorching hot, winning their ninth in a row on Sunday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. That means the Mariners are in first place in the AL West.
Rangers fans know that any series against the Astros will be tough. Even though Houston has been slumping over the past couple of months, the Rangers-Astros matchups are never boring.
Texas had been dominant against the Mets over the weekend, but Mets slugger Pete Alonso provided a needed tonic for New York. Alonso's three-run homer in the 10th inning sent the Mets to a 5-2 win over Texas.
It's not a good feeling to have getaway day become a losing day. Yet the Rangers can now turn their full attention to making up more ground in the AL playoff picture. Texas is three games behind Seattle and two games behind Houston in the division.
Josh Smith came up with a chance to deliver at the plate, but Mets ace reliever Edwin Díaz didn't allow that to happen. After the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy talked about the situation.
"That’s a pretty good pitcher out there," Bochy said, according to MLB.com. "That’s their closer. [Smith] has been swinging the bat well. There are some other guys who had chances to get a run in. That was missing. That’s the difference."
Texas can just flush the Mets series away and head to Houston with eyes on winning the series at Daikin Park. The last time these two teams played at Globe Life Field, the Rangers took two of three from the Astros.
"As usual, we’ll come out ready to play," Bochy said. "Another big series. [We] have done a great job of it. [Our] bullpen has been used quite a bit and [playing the Mets] was a hard-fought series. Yeah, it was a tough loss. I hate to lose in extra innings, but we took the series. The Mets are a good team over there. You move on. You have to get ready for Houston."
The three-game series against the Astros will not be easy. The Rangers, though, got some good news on Sunday as Adolis García returned to the active roster. García has been a pest against Astros pitchers at times. Bochy sure hopes he brings his home run-hitting ways alive at the right time.