The Texas Rangers were third place outsiders at the start of the season to win the AL West. Now, they are a few days away from clinching the Division and advancing into the playoffs in outstanding fashion.
With a current record of 88-68 and a trip to the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, the Rangers are in perfect position to hold their grip on first place. But, what have been the keys to their success this year?
Run Differential
The Rangers have amassed a +171 run differential up until before today’s game during the season. This run differential would be good enough to have them win 94 games up until now, but they have a slightly less impressive record of only 88 wins.
Their expected wins vs losses are only second to the Tampa Bay Rays, who have performed quite close to their expected value.
Home Record
The Texas Rangers have made their home a fortress, again only second to the Rays, they hold an impressive 50 wins against 31 losses at home. This amounts to 9 wins more than Seattle at home, and only three wins less than the Rays.
Not even Baltimore, which holds the best record in the American League has been able to gather as many home wins as the Rangers.
Feeling comfortable at home is one of the key components to a good postseason, so we can expect more of this during next month.
Record against Over .500 teams
If we take a look at the AL West, there is only one team with a winning record against over .500 teams. The Rangers have a 0.513 record against teams with a winning record, while the Astros hold a 0.468 record and the Mariners hold a 0.408 record.
The difference in wins against winning teams is impressive considering that the Rangers have played the most games against a winning record team out of the three teams fighting for 1st place in the AL West.
Now Texas must shift its focus into getting into the postseason at a premium level, currently riding a six win streak and hoping to get momentum to face a tough battle against the Orioles, Rays, Twins and probably either the Astros or Mariners.
