You have to give Bruce Bochy credit. He is still finding ways to help out the SF Giants. The latest example is by leading the Texas Rangers to two straight victories over the New York Mets this weekend.
Bruce Bochy is doing everything he can to help SF Giants make the playoffs
The Mets have been in a complete freefall lately. They have lost eight straight games, and their hold on a playoff spot has quickly disappeared. That has not been the case for the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres, both of whom have a strong hold on a Wild Card spot.
That final spot is up for grabs right now. The Mets, Giants, and Cincinnati Reds are all battling for the final spot. The Mets have an edge over the Giants if they end the season with the same record. In the case of a tie, the head-to-head matchup is the next step in determining a playoff spot. The Mets went 4-2 against the Giants this season, so they hold the tiebreaker.
That may all be a moot point if this nosedive continues. The Mets lost the series against the Reds last weekend, were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this week, and dropped the first two games against the Rangers this weekend.
Bochy and the Rangers are looking to make a playoff push of their own. They have the pitching staff to excel in the postseason, as they lead baseball with a 3.45 ERA. Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi would be a formidable duo in any playoff series.
However, the offense leaves a bit to be desired. In that regard, it is like Bochy never left San Francisco. The Rangers’ offense is in the lower third of baseball with a 94 wRC+.
The AL has some very competitive races going on. The Rangers are on the outside of the Wild Card picture by 1.5 games with a 79-70 record. Unfortunately, the path through the AL West is not any easier. The Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners sit 1.5 games ahead of the Rangers with an 80-68 record each.
With less than two weeks to go in the season, this could go down to the wire for a number of teams. The Giants are Rangers are in a similar boat, as they are trying to play their way into the playoff picture. In the meantime, Texas can help the Giants with one more win against New York later today.