The remain close enough to win the American League West. However, another downturn could end that pursuit. to 72-74 with Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners. The club entered Wednesday two games behind the Houston Astros and wasted an opportunity. With 16 games remaining, the without another head-to-head series against the division leader.
Seager entered play Wednesday batting .227 with a .323 on-base percentage. His .425 slugging percentage, 16 homers, 39 RBIs, and .748 OPS came over 85 games. He then launched his 17th homer in the eighth inning, providing the only offense beyond Jake Burger’s solo shot.
The homer offered encouragement, but the loss captured the larger problem. The Rangers went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and stranded six. Two solo homers could not overcome another game without a productive hit after a runner reached second or third.
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The veteran shortstop entered the month of September batting .221 with a .323 on-base percentage and a .400 slugging percentage. He had produced only 13 home runs and 34 RBIs through August. Those numbers reflect almost an entire season in which Texas lacked the superstar production its lineup requires.
Seager’s situational production has been even more concerning. Through Tuesday, he was batting .195 with runners on base and .209 with runners in scoring position. Limited opportunities and injuries have affected his RBI total. Still, the club cannot afford to have its most accomplished hitter waste the chances that come his way.
Corey Seager must rediscover the hitter who transformed the Rangers
impossible to dismiss. He never hit below .245 or slugged below .455 in his first four years with the organization. He also reached at least 21 home runs each season, even when injuries limited him to 102 games in 2025.His 2023 championship season established the ceiling. Seager batted .327 with a .390 on-base percentage and .623 slugging percentage. He added 33 home runs and 96 RBIs in 119 games. He finished second in AL MVP voting before earning his second World Series MVP award. changed how opponents approached the lineup.
His recent injury-shortened seasons provide an unfavorable comparison. Seager hit .278 with 30 homers and a .864 OPS in 2024. He followed that by batting .271 with 21 homers and an .860 OPS in 2025. His .748 OPS through Tuesday was his lowest mark in five seasons.
That consistency gave the lineup its identity for four seasons. create better opportunities for his teammates. The club could withstand uneven stretches elsewhere. Seager ensured opposing staffs rarely found an easy passage through the heart of the order.
The supporting cast has kept the club within but cannot carry an AL West contender. Burger has supplied 26 home runs and a career-high 83 RBIs. Brandon Nimmo creates traffic, while Wyatt Langford adds power and athleticism. Their contributions matter, but none can replace Seager’s presence.
That limitation explains why Seager’s decline matters more than another player’s slump. Burger can change a game with one swing, but his batting average is still below .240. Nimmo provides competitive plate appearances, while Langford has endured inconsistent stretches. They complement a dominant centerpiece. They cannot collectively manufacture his usual impact when he performs like an average hitter.
Seager has finally started resembling that centerpiece. His homer Wednesday was his fourth in eight September games and his third in a row. Through Tuesday’s action, he was hitting .286 with three homers, five RBIs, and a 1.001 OPS for the month. His power surge has given the Rangers evidence that the season can end differently.
However, a late surge does not erase five months of diminished production. The remaining schedule includes the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Minnesota Twins. Several opponents remain involved in their own postseason races. Texas must outplay Houston without receiving another chance to beat the Astros directly.
Occasional solo power will not be enough. to reach base consistently, punish mistakes, and deliver when runners are aboard. His September response must become the standard throughout every remaining series.
The to the division title. That path depends on their highest-paid hitter carrying an offense that cannot directly replace him. If Seager sustains this turnaround, the club can pressure Houston until the final week. Should the season-long slump return, the Rangers will lose the AL West, as their margin for error has disappeared.
