As always, there is plenty to take away from a stretch like this. Let's break down three takeaways from Texas Rangers' first homestand of 2026.
The Texas Rangers' first homestand of the 2026 season has officially come and gone, and it’s fair to say it was both the best of times and the worst of times.
Texas started off its home slate by being swept at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, and only scored four runs in the process.
With things looking bleak and the defending AL West champion Seattle Mariners coming to town, the Rangers bounced back, earning a series sweep in their first divisional series of the season.
As always, there is plenty to take away from a stretch like this, so let’s break down three takeaways from the Rangers' first home stand of 2026.
No. 1 -- Jakob Junis Is Well on His Way to Being the Rangers' Full-Time Closer
First-Year manager Skip Schumaker may not have come out and officially said that Jakob Junis is the team’s closer, but his actions just about say otherwise.
In Monday’s series opener against the Mariners, the Rangers held a one-run lead going into the ninth inning. Junis came on to try to earn his first save of the season.
Four pitches later, he had done exactly that as Junis forced a game-ending 3-6-3 double play to end the game and snap the Rangers' four-game losing skid.
Just 24 hours later, Junis was in the same boat and produced the same result, earning his second save of the season and securing a Rangers one-run victory.
There’s no doubt that if Junis can continue to perform anywhere close to the level he is at now, the Rangers will feel confident they have their ninth-inning guy.
No. 2 -- The Offense Is Still Going to Have to Produce More
After slumping to the tune of four runs in three games against the Reds, the Rangers offense certainly improved in the Mariners series.
However, there’s no doubt Texas will still be looking for more after scoring just eight runs in the sweep over Seattle.
Given that it’s still very early in the season, there is certinally no rush to fire up the panic button on the Rangers offense as a whole.
Additionally, we are seeing that this unit has the ability to put balls in play and manufacture runs, unlike the last two seasons.
Texas hopes that those signs will eventually lead to an offensive breakout sooner rather than later.
No. 3 -- Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi Will Be Just Fine
The Rangers pair of aces didn’t light up the world like they usually do in their first few starts of the season, but they were certainly driving forces behind their sweep of the Mariners.
On Monday, after an injury scare, deGrom set the tone for the series, going five innings and allowing just one run in a 2-1 Rangers win.
The very next night, Eovaldi brushed off his slow start to the season, going six innings and allowing just two runs.
Despite the reactions from the Monday Morning Quarterbacks, the Rangers still have unwavering confidence that both deGrom and Eovaldi still figure to be two of the best pitchers in the American League this season.
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