The Texas Rangers face a tense finish to their regular season with Joc Pederson aiming to return if the team reaches the postseason. Pederson, sidelined since September 12 with a broken hand, is scheduled to take live batting practice ahead of Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. His performance in that session will determine whether he rejoins the Rangers lineup for the playoffs.
The Rangers and Houston Astros are deadlocked atop the American League West with identical 79-80 records as they enter the final series of the season. While the Rangers play the Twins on the road, the Astros take on the Oakland Athletics in Sacramento. The Astros hold the advantage in a tiebreaker scenario, having won the season series 9-4 over Texas. This means if both teams finish with the same record, Houston would secure the postseason spot.
Pederson’s return could be significant for the Rangers. The slugger is in his second season with Texas, posting a .235/.329/.487 slash line, 26 home runs, and 53 RBIs. He typically fills the designated hitter role and ranks second on the team in home runs behind Jake Burger, who leads with 27 homers and 89 RBIs. Pederson’s absence has been felt, especially given the Rangers’ need for offensive firepower in the tight division race.
The injury occurred when Pederson was struck by a pitch from Brandon Pfaadt of the Arizona Diamondbacks, resulting in a broken hand. Since then, the Rangers have had to adjust their lineup without one of their more productive hitters. Pederson’s potential comeback adds urgency to the final games as Texas pushes for a postseason berth.
The Rangers’ situation is complicated by the quality of their remaining opponents. The Twins present a tougher challenge than the Athletics, making the Rangers’ path less straightforward compared to Houston’s. With the season series disadvantage to the Astros, every game carries added weight for Texas.
If Pederson’s batting practice goes well and he experiences no discomfort, he could rejoin the team at the start of the playoffs. That would give the Rangers an offensive boost just as they need it most. The team’s hope now rests on both winning their remaining games and Pederson’s ability to contribute once again.
According to Yahoo Sports.