Tonight kicks off a must-sweep series for the playoff-hopeful Texas Rangers, and frankly, they have no business losing a single game against the utterly terrible Athletics. We’re in the stretch run of the 2026 MLB regular season, with just four weeks left, and the Rangers cannot afford to stumble. Monday night’s game is absolutely unacceptable to lose, especially with Jacob deGrom on the mound. Yeah, he’s been scuffling, but the guy has been way sharper at home, so we gotta hope the good version shows up for the 8:05 ET first pitch from Globe Life Field. This is it for Texas.
Oakland’s “Tank” Is Full Steam Ahead
Let’s be real, the Athletics are not just bad, they are actively trying to lose. With a dismal 53-84 record, it benefits them to drop as many games as possible thanks to MLB’s new draft lottery. They just got swept in three games at home by Baltimore over the weekend, which tells you everything you need to know. The A’s, along with the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies, are in a three-way battle for the worst overall record in the league. The bottom three teams each snag identical 16.5% odds for the No. 1 overall pick. Right now, the Rockies are the favorites at +115, the Angels at +160, and the A’s a distant +475. It’s an open secret that Oakland’s “tank” started weeks ago, with key players like All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers, shortstop Jacob Wilson, DH Brent Rooker, outfielder Tyler Soderstrom, and 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz all getting shut down due to “injury.” Why bother bringing them back when losing is the goal? This franchise has some genuinely promising talent, but it feels like they are just counting the days until they get to their new home in Las Vegas in 2028, hoping ownership actually decides to spend some money then.
Rookie Gage Jump Faces a Dangerous Lineup
On the mound for the tanking A’s tonight is rookie lefty Gage Jump. This 23-year-old was the sport’s No. 7 overall lefty pitching prospect when he made his debut in late May, and he’s had the typical ups and downs you’d expect from a rookie. His overall record is 6-8 with a 4.69 ERA. Interestingly, he’s been quite a bit better away from that minor-league ballpark they call home in Sacramento, sporting a 3.49 road ERA compared to a 5.62 at home. Jump’s only other start against Texas was at home on August 14, where he gave up three runs over 5.1 innings in a no-decision. For the Rangers, this is a prime opportunity to tee off. They’ve gotta show up focused and capitalize on every single chance against a team that frankly, isn’t even trying to win.
The Rangers need to come out firing on all cylinders tonight. This three-game series is not just about wins, it’s about momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. They need to sweep the Athletics, plain and simple. Anything less is a missed opportunity against a team basically waving a white flag.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply