The Texas Rangers began the week with a new-look lineup in an effort to jump start a struggling offense. Now, they hope rest can lead to a revival.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy sat Adolis García vs. the Boston Red Sox on Friday at Globe Life Field to give the scuffling right fielder two consecutive days off. García slashed .174/.232/.272 in July and hasn’t hit better than .198 in any of the previous three singular months. Utilityman Ezequiel Duran made his first major league start in right field and hit seventh.
“It’s obvious he’s working on things,” Bochy said of García. “and trying to get on track.”
García's Struggles Against Right-Handed Pitching
Friday’s matchup might’ve been especially troublesome for García. Boston right-hander Kutter Crawford, who started Friday’s series opener, throws his four-seam fastball an arsenal-high 34% of the time. García has hit .214 vs. four-seam fastballs this season and provided a negative-9 run value, according to Baseball Savant. Eight qualified batters in the American League have fared worse against that pitch.
A Team-Wide Problem
There’s an argument, though, that any right-handed pitcher is a poor opponent for any Rangers hitter. Texas has hit .222 vs. right-handed pitching since June 1 and logged a .632 on-base plus slugging percentage — the second-worst in baseball. García’s .167 average against right-handers in that time frame is the worst among qualified Rangers hitters.
“Righties have been tougher on us than the lefties now for the last six weeks, or whatever,” Bochy said last weekend in Toronto, and referenced the Rangers’ turnaround vs. left-handed pitching. “That’s a hard one to explain. We talked against our struggles against left-handed pitching; I didn’t have a great answer for you then, I don’t have a great answer now.”
A Restful Revival?
An on-track García might not be the definitive answer.
It can’t hurt, though.
What Happens Next?
The Texas Rangers are hoping that a few days off will help Adolis García get back on track. If he can find his swing, it could be a big boost for the team. But even if García doesn't return to his previous form, the Rangers will need to find a way to get their offense going. The season is still young, but the Rangers are already facing a tough uphill battle.
García is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox.
García started the previous 19 games but will receive a day off after he posted a .524 OPS during that span. The 31-year-old has 18 homers through 104 games but has otherwise struggled at the plate this season with a .210/.273/.389 slash line. Ezequiel Duran will start in right field and bat seventh Friday.
