The Texas Rangers’ playoff hopes took another hit on Saturday as outfielder Evan Carter was officially placed on the 10-day injured list due to ongoing back spasms, according to the team’s PR announcement on X (formerly Twitter). In a corresponding move, outfielder Alejandro Osuna was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock, while first baseman Jake Burger was sent to Double-A Frisco for an injury rehab assignment.
Manager Bruce Bochy addressed the situation before Saturday’s matchup with the Seattle Mariners, a crucial game for a struggling Rangers team that has now dropped four of its last five. After a promising start to the second half with eight wins in their first nine games, Texas finds itself trailing in the AL West and slipping further behind in the Wild Card race. Currently, they sit 5.5 games behind the division-leading Astros and two games behind the Red Sox for the final playoff spot.
Carter’s absence is especially tough given his ongoing injury struggles this season. He’s not alone—third baseman Josh Jung remains sidelined with a calf issue, and multiple pitchers are still recovering. While Burger is nearing a return, Texas remains hampered by a battered roster at a time when wins are more critical than ever.
The Rangers will close out their series with Seattle this weekend and won’t face them again this season unless both clubs make the postseason—a scenario that’s beginning to feel like a long shot. Still, if the Rangers can get healthy and find a late-season spark, manager Bruce Bochy’s squad may yet fight their way back into October. But with the calendar flipping to August, the window to make that happen is quickly narrowing.
