SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers began the final week of spring training with what has become their recent typical offensive night: Another seven runs.
This is, after all, supposed to be a team built on offense first.
With a 7-3 win over Cleveland at Surprise Stadium Tuesday, the Rangers won for the sixth time in their last eight games. In those eight games, they’ve averaged 6.8 runs per game.
“It’s been pretty good,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “And don’t think it’s where we’re going to be. The numbers tell you that too. We’ve got some guys that still need some at-bats here before we start, but overall, I think it’s been a pretty good spring.”
For what it’s worth — which is little or nothing — there are four expected regulars with batting averages of .200 or below: Marcus Semien (.200), Evan Carter (.200), Josh Jung (.190) and Jake Burger (.167).
The regulars: For the first time this spring, the Rangers ran out a lineup that featured all of the expected regulars. We’d call it an opening day lineup, except that they will face a left-hander on opening day in Boston’s Garrett Crochet, so lefties Joc Pederson and Evan Carter might be sitting.
As expected, the top three in the order were Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford. Pederson, however, hit cleanup, and Adolis Garcia, who has hit fourth in 253 of the 324 regular-season games Bochy has managed the Rangers, hit fifth. Josh Jung, Carter, Jake Burger and Jonah Heim rounded out the lineup.
Bochy acknowledged the lineup on Tuesday was “kind of how things were shaping up,” but did specifically state that Leody Taveras could also fit in among the regulars.
The lineup got off to a hot start with three runs in the first inning, highlighted by Langford working his way to an eight-pitch walk and García doubling off the top of the center field fence on an 0-2 count. The double was particularly notable because it was the third hit García has had this spring on an 0-2 count. He went 6 for 64 (.094) in that count last year. After Luis Ortiz got to 0-2 with a slider down and away from García, he tried to double up on the pitch. García wasn’t fooled twice.
Could we interest you in a bases-clearing Doli Double?
— Victory+ (@victoryplustv) March 19, 2025
Thiiiiiis close to a spring slam for Adolis García.
Watch @Rangers ➡️ https://t.co/av09VU8gGq pic.twitter.com/ugPbQSIMsQ
Fast times: Tyler Mahle showed his best fastball of the spring in a five-inning outing. Mahle averaged 92.8 mph on 35 four-seamers and topped out at 95.4 mph. The average was his highest of the spring by 1.4 mph.
On an evening where the wind was blowing out (it may have aided García’s double a bit), Mahle allowed consecutive homers to former Rangers legend Austin Hedges (on a fastball) and Juan Brito (slider) to start the second. They were the only hits Mahle allowed. Mahle, who made just three starts last year due to recovery from elbow surgery and later shoulder issues, pushed his pitch count to 69. It’s likely he’ll be at about 80-85 to start the season.
Murphy’s flaw: Non-roster reliever Patrick Murphy’s spring shutout came to an end two batters into his fifth outing when Tyler Freeman hit a 423-foot home run to center field. It ended a stretch of 10 ⅓ innings before he allowed a run. Murphy entered the day as one of five pitchers in the majors with at least 10 innings in spring and a 0.00 ERA. The list starts with Miami’s Sandy Alcantara. When it starts with a former Cy Young winner, it’s good company to keep.
Here is the Rangers’ conundrum with adding Murphy, who has certainly been one of the best performers this spring, to the roster: He would have to be added to the 40-man roster, which would require one move, and he has no minor league options remaining, meaning he can’t be sent out after a long relief outing for a fresh arm. In addition, Murphy, who pitched in Japan last year, can’t exercise an out clause in his contract until July 1. All those roster requirements potentially work against him. But his performance could still trump them all.
Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant
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