Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
ARLINGTON — Rangers left-handed pitcher Tyler Alexander set a career high for appearances more than a month ago, and Thursday afternoon, threw in his 73rd game of the season.
“You’ve got to be a little bit of a nutjob to be a bullpen guy because you do get abused,” Alexander said. “You laugh through the pain.”
Right-handed pitcher Chase Silseth, who appeared in his career-high 72nd game the same day, broke into laughter one locker down.
Article continues below this ad
“Yeah,” Silseth said. “I don’t know if you can nail it more than that.”
The abuse, to borrow Alexander’s terminology, might be close to a payoff. The Rangers won 3-1 over the New York Mets at Globe Life Field Thursday afternoon as a bullpen “going on guts right now,” as manager Skip Schumaker said, logged four scoreless innings to clinch the victory. It pulled them back atop the AL West with four games left to play in the regular season and capped a homestand in which the collective pitching staff leapt through hoops to survive.
“Guys have got to step up,” said left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia, who appeared in five of the homestand’s nine games. “This is the time.”
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) watches his two-run home run to left field during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) takes the mound before the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers players react after a single to left by Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (14) during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) celebrates his two-run home run with first baseman Jake Burger (21) and second baseman Justin Foscue (14) during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) is caught stealing by New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) during the second inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) forces out New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) as he turns a double play during the third inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) throws a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) throws a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (14) fields a ground ball from New York Mets first baseman Brett Baty during the fourth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) celebrates his double alongside New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) during the fourth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) talks with New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) during the fourth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers center fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) catches a fly ball for an out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run as fans and teammates celebrate during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) high fives third base coach Corey Ragsdale after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) hits an infield single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) runs down Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger (21) for an out during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge flies out to Texas Rangers center fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) during the seventh inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers center fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) high fives left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) after an out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers third baseman Ezequiel Duran (20) fields a ground ball from New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers pitcher Jordan Montgomery (52) shakes hands with catcher Elias Díaz (35) after winning a baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers players thank fans after winning their final regular season home baseball game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Rangers right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker allowed one run in five innings against the team that drafted him (but did not sign him) out of college four years ago. He was at only 74 pitches after five innings, but as he’s been wont to do on this homestand, Schumaker turned to his high-leverage bullpen arms early and was rewarded. In the sixth inning, with a left-handed hitter that could change the game with one swing due up, Garcia entered. He retired the side in order and used half of the pitches he threw to get designated hitter Juan Soto to pop out to catcher Elias Díaz in foul territory for the second out.
Article continues below this ad
It started a run of four consecutive relievers who each logged a scoreless frame to maintain the lead. Alexander threw a scoreless seventh inning against a pocket of three left-handed hitters. Silseth threw a scoreless eighth inning against two righties and a switch hitter. Left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery — who pitched on consecutive days for only the second time in his career — threw a scoreless ninth inning against the top of the Mets’ lineup.
“The third time around, depending on what the score was, I wanted the left-handedness at the top as many times as I could,” Schumaker said of the decision to employ his bullpen early. “I showed that for three straight games. I was hoping Juan Soto wasn’t going to beat us. That was the goal for the set. Our pitchers did a really good job when I allowed them to pitch to those guys.”
Soto’s pop out in the sixth inning was only the second time in a six at-bat span that he was thrown a pitch. The Rangers intentionally walked him three times in Wednesday’s game (including once to load the bases) and again in Thursday’s game (with a runner on base in the top of the second inning). That’s tied for the most amount of intentional walks that the Rangers have issued one player in any two-game span in franchise history.
Bichette went 0 for 3 with a walk and a double-play-inducing ground out after Soto’s intentional free passes ahead of him.
Had Schumaker ever employed the intentional walk that often in a two-game span?
Article continues below this ad
“I probably should’ve earlier in the season with a particular player,” Schumaker said with a nod to Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who, for the record, was intentionally walked three times in a two-game span this year. “You have to do some uncommon things right now. Walking the bases loaded is not ideal for multiple reasons, analytically, there’s a lot of reasons why you never walk the bases loaded even if the base open is at third base. But you have to take shots, and I felt good about giving our guys the best chance, and the best chance was to get the guy behind him.”
The concept of best chances was a constant throughout the homestand, and it’s why Garcia, Alexander, Silseth and left-handed pitcher Jacob Latz were employed early, often or both. Latz pitched two innings of Wednesday’s game, was “unavailable” in Thursday’s, per Schumaker, and led to left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery’s second career save when he retired the side in order.
Alexander (who’s pitched in the first, fifth, sixth and seventh innings on this homestand), Silseth (who’s pitched in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings) and Garcia (who’s pitched in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings) have combined for a 3.68 ERA in 14 2/3 innings in the club’s last nine games. They’ve helped anchor a bullpen that technically logged more innings (46 2/3) on this homestand than the rotation did (34 1/3).
“We’ve kind of been playing playoff baseball for the last two weeks, to where like, we’re in the game early and throwing a lot,” Alexander said. “I wouldn’t say we’re in roles we’re not used to because we’ve kind of been doing that throughout the year. We’re kind of just making us work in pockets, and Skip’s done a great job of putting us in situations that we’re supposed to succeed in.”
Article continues below this ad