Despite elite potential, MacKenzie Gore’s late-season inconsistency and short outings strained the bullpen, leaving the Texas Rangers without a division title.
The Texas Rangers’ failure to reach the postseason this year is particularly difficult to excuse because the Houston Astros won the American League West with an 81-81 record.
Texas finished 80-82, one game behind Houston, and missed October baseball for a third consecutive season following its 2023 World Series win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The final day provided one last opportunity. The Rangers needed to defeat the Minnesota Twins and have the Astros lose to the Athletics because Houston owned the season-series tiebreaker.
Instead, Texas lost 6-4 on Sunday, while the Astros secured the division with a 9-0 victory.
The Rangers finished 35-46 on the road and 51-53 against teams with losing records. Those failures belonged to the entire team, but MacKenzie Gore, one of their expected difference-makers, left particularly significant gaps.
Gore failed to meet expectations
Texas sent five prospects to the Washington Nationals to acquire Gore in January. The considerable investment demonstrated that the Rangers intended to win immediately, with the left-hander providing another frontline option for their rotation.
Gore made 34 starts and pitched 173 innings, meaning availability was not the problem.
His performance was inconsistent. Gore finished 8-11 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.34 WHIP while recording 174 strikeouts. He went 1-1 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 23.2 innings over his last six starts, with nine strikeouts and 15 walks.
Gore’s inability to consistently pitch deep into games created additional pressure for a Texas bullpen that finished the year 23rd in MLB with a 4.47 ERA.
The left-hander allowed one run on one hit with zero strikeouts and a walk in 2.1 innings on Sunday, meaning the Rangers’ 6-4 loss cannot be blamed entirely on his pitching line.
However, Gore lasted only 2.1 innings and forced Texas to cover most of its most consequential game with relievers.
His decline late in the season reflected a familiar pattern. Gore repeatedly displayed impressive ability but produced too few outings that matched the price the Rangers paid to acquire him.
A more dependable season from their biggest offseason pitching addition could have altered such a narrow division race.
Gore’s upside
Gore possesses the natural ability required to become a frontline starter. His pitches can challenge hitters throughout the strike zone, and his left-handed delivery provides another dimension to the rotation.
His competitiveness is also evident when he works through difficult situations. Gore does not lack confidence or the willingness to attack, but he must pair those qualities with greater efficiency and consistency.
The next step involves controlling innings before they unravel, trusting his strengths and maintaining his mechanics when pressure builds. A dependable starter must protect the bullpen, adjust when his best pitch is unavailable and provide stability every fifth day.
Texas acquired Gore because of his potential to become that pitcher. His talent remains clear, but the Rangers need it to translate into reliable performances throughout an entire season.
