No Adolis, no Max? No problem: How the Rangers responded to adversity with a dominant victory
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Jeff Passan, ESPN
PHOENIX — Travis Jankowski is a long-haired, kinda-Spicolli-looking font of wisdom, the sort of guy who understands the soul of a baseball team because he spends more time observing than participating. When he signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract this spring with the Rangers, he expected to do what he’d spent most of his nine-year career doing: bringing some speed, some plate discipline and some good vibes. He did not expect to help save their season.
The first time it happened was April 12, when the Rangers’ all-everything shortstop, Corey Seager, hit the injured list with a strained hamstring. Some shuffling opened up an outfield spot for Jankowski, who spent most of his time in Seager’s No. 2 hole in the lineup. In the five weeks before Seager returned, all the Rangers did was lead Major League Baseball in runs scored.
On Tuesday, about an hour before Game 4 of the World Series, the Rangers announced that Adolis Garcia and Max Scherzer — their hottest hitter and erstwhile ace — would miss the remainder of the series with injuries. Jankowski would replace Garcia — ALCS MVP, Game 1 walk-off-homer author — in right field and slot in at the bottom of their lineup.
“When you’ve been through this, it’s a little easier,” Jankowski said. “We could’ve folded. That’s not us. I think everyone knows that by now.”
That much is clear after Game 4. The Rangers did the folding, shellacking the Arizona Diamondbacks in the early innings and weathering a tepid late rally to secure an 11-7 victory and move themselves to within one game of a World Series title. As much as was made of the losses of Garcia and Scherzer before Game 4, it was easy to forget the Rangers learned about the frailty of the human body and the strength of the human mind long before they were on the verge of winning their first World Series in 63 years of existence.
The domino effect from Seager’s injury — and the season-ending elbow surgery for ace Jacob deGrom and the dings that kept catcher Jonah Heim and third baseman Josh Jung and even Garcia out for extended periods during the regular season — fully prepared Texas for this. What their bodies lacked in any particular moment they made up for with an attitude that never leaned into any woe-is-me rhetoric.
The Rangers prefer whoa-is-me. And on the night that Seager hit another momentous and monumental home run to continue his postseason mastery, a night in which his keystone partner, Marcus Semien, busted out of a slump with a two-run triple and three-run homer in back-to-back innings, Jankowski did what he showed himself capable of in April. In the second inning, he feathered a single up the middle to keep the inning going. He followed the next inning with a bases-loaded double that scored a pair of runs and extended Texas’ lead to 7-0 — one that would grow to 10-0 one Semien swing later.
The Rangers are on the verge of winning the World Series because of this unrelenting offense that, after staying relatively quiet in the first three games of the series, feasted on Arizona’s bullpen. In the second and third innings, the Rangers put up five runs with two outs. A five-run inning in the World Series is uncommon. Back-to-back five-run innings never had happened. Consecutive five-run innings, all with two outs, probably never will happen again.
Texas understood that in order to feast, it needed to stop offering at the Diamondbacks’ bad pitches and maraud the good ones. After chasing on nearly 27% of Arizona’s pitches in the first three games, the Rangers cut that to 19.1% in Game 4. And with the Diamondbacks throwing significantly more pitches in the strike zone, Texas’ offense — which led MLB with 26 innings of five or more runs during the regular season — found itself.
“They don’t get swing happy,” Rangers hitting coach Tim Hyers said. “They stick to a plan. That’s what gives you competitive at-bats one after the other. But I think it starts with a good plan, but it also starts with they just don’t expand that much whenever they get the ball rolling.”
This wasn’t a ball. It was a boulder. Because this is how this Rangers offense has operated not just since the beginning of the postseason but the beginning of the season. The Rangers swing with the impertinence of Bamm-Bamm Rubble and the patience of a preschool teacher, marrying these divergent concepts and riding them to the verge of history. Texas’ 881 runs led the American League, and navigating this lineup, even without Garcia, is rife with peril.
“Think about it,” said Nate Lowe, the Rangers’ first baseman, who broke down the Rangers’ lineup in very simple terms:
“We have two MVP types hitting 1-2.” (Seager and Semien.)
“We had a playoff MVP cleaning up.” (Garcia.)
“We have an MVP-ceiling kid who’s stepping in to hit third.” (Evan Carter, who was in Double-A for almost the entirety of the season.)
“We have a Silver Slugger hitting fifth.” (DH Mitch Garver)
“The starting All-Star third baseman hitting sixth.” (Jung, whose three hits in Game 4 led Texas.)
“Another Silver Slugger hitting seventh.” (Lowe pointed to himself.)
“And then the All-Star starter at catcher hitting eight.” (Jonah Heim, whose eighth-inning home run Tuesday added Texas’ 11th run.)
“And a very quality leadoff hitter for arguably 29 other teams hitting ninth for us.” (Leody Taveras, whose walk against Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald in Game 1 set up Seager’s epic game-tying ninth-inning home run.)
“So, yeah,” Lowe said, “when you spell it all out like that, it’s pretty easy to relieve pressure on one bat to know that there are eight others, and two or three other bench bats” — Jankowski, Robbie Grossman, Ezequiel Duran, Austin Hedges — “that are ready to come in.”
Which is why the Rangers offense, better than most, can weather the loss of a hitter even of Garcia’s quality. When they are not doing well, they’re still better than most, and when they are locked in, it is baseball in god mode. The Rangers got healthy before the postseason, and until Scherzer hobbled off the mound in Game 3 with a locked-up back and Garcia grabbed at his oblique in the eighth inning, they’d shown that the team that sprinted to the American League West lead — before those injuries hit, causing that lead to evaporate and almost costing them a postseason spot — still lived somewhere in that clubhouse.
Game 4 unleashed god mode again, and they clowned the Diamondbacks in the same way Arizona has those who dared to doubt them. Though the Diamondbacks walked here in glass slippers, only a fool would suggest they’re done. The Philadelphia Phillies made that mistake and are now watching the World Series on TV.
Besides, these are the Texas Rangers, among the most woebegone franchises in professional sports. They’ve either been bad or sad. The awfulness is pervasive. The melancholy is particularly acute, aged a dozen years, when they were one strike from winning the World Series.
This is a new team, though, a new era, with a new manager in Bruce Bochy, who has three rings, and a new franchise player in Seager, who’s got one, and a new appreciation for what all of the injuries taught them. And it doesn’t hurt to know that only six of 47 teams facing 3-1 World Series deficits have recovered to win.
The Rangers are not what they are — they are not here — without April and May giving them the opportunity to find out they can be just as good without even someone who feels integral to their success.
“That, to me, is kind of the motto of our team,” Jankowski said. “We got some boppers in the lineup, but we can’t rely on them all the time. It’s baseball. Crazy stuff happens. We need a team unit to win this whole thing. And that’s what I was in awe of.”
The 2025-26 MLB hot stove was lit just days after the Los Angeles Dodgers hoisted their second consecutive World Series championship trophy.
All eyes this winter are on a free agent hitting class featuring Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber (who is returning to the Phillies on a five-year deal), Cody Bellinger, Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso. But they’re not the only ones who will make a splash in the market.
Which teams will go big to contend for the 2026 World Series title? And who will make the trades and signings that have everyone buzzing?
Below is a running list of notable transactions and updates from throughout the MLB offseason.
Key links: Offseason grades | Top 50 free agents | Fantasy spin | Best fits
Notable MLB offseason transactions
Dec. 9
Closer Edwin Diaz and the Dodgers are in agreement on a three-year, $69 million deal, sources tell ESPN.
Kyle Schwarber and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a five-year, $150 million contract, sources told ESPN, reuniting the National League home run leader with the team he has played for the past four seasons.
Dec. 8
Left-hander Steven Matz and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a two-year contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN.
Free agent pitcher Michael Soroka and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a one-year deal, pending a physical, sources tell ESPN.
Dec. 6
The Washington Nationals traded left-hander Jose Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners for top catching prospect Harry Ford and minor league pitcher Isaac Lyon, the teams announced Saturday.
Dec. 4
The Boston Red Sox acquired right-hander Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a five-player trade that sent heralded outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia to Pittsburgh, the teams announced Thursday.
Dec. 3
Outfielder Cedric Mullins has agreed to a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to multiple reports.
Free agent closer Emilio Pagan has agreed to return to the Cincinnati Reds on a $20 million, two-year contract, according to multiple reports.
World Series hero Miguel Rojas is returning to the Dodgers in 2026, for what will be his final season in the major leagues, sources told ESPN. The infielder agreed to terms on a one-year, $5.5 million deal, after which he will be assisting the front office and helping in player development.
Left-handed reliever Sam Hentges and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract.
Left-hander Anthony Kay and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $12 million contract with a club option for a third season, sources told ESPN.
Dec. 2
Right-hander Cody Ponce, who won KBO MVP honors last season, and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a three-year, $30 million contract, sources told ESPN
Former KBO pitcher Ryan Weiss is in agreement with the Houston Astros on a one-year contract that guarantees him $2.6 million, sources told ESPN.
Right-hander Alek Manoah and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a one-year, $1.95 million contract, a source tells ESPN.
Dec. 1
Reliever Devin Williams and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year contract that guarantees more than $50 million, sources tell ESPN.
Nov. 29
Closer Ryan Helsley and the Baltimore Orioles agreed on a two-year contract that includes an opt-out after the first season.
Nov. 26
Right-hander Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed on a seven-year, $210 million contract.
Nov. 25
The Boston Red Sox acquired veteran right-hander Sonny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Nov. 23
The New York Mets and Texas Rangers agreed to a trade that would send second baseman Marcus Semien to the Mets and outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers.
Nov. 21
The Chicago Cubs and right-handed reliever Phil Maton agreed on a two-year deal.
The Giants acquired outfielder Joey Wiemer from the Marlins for cash and agreed to terms with right-hander JT Brubaker on a one-year contract.
The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million deal with veteran catcher James McCann.
Nov. 19
The Braves re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16 million contract.
The Atlanta Braves acquired Mauricio Dubon from the Houston Astros for Nick Allen in an exchange of infielders.
Nov. 18
The Baltimore Orioles acquired outfielder Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez.
New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, Detroit Tigers infielder Gleyber Torres, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff and Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga accepted their qualifying offers, meaning they’ll return to their respective teams in 2026 at salaries of $22.025 million.
Nov. 17
Reliever Ryan Yarbrough will be back in the Bronx after agreeing to a one-year deal with the New York Yankees.
Nov. 16
First baseman Josh Naylor and the Seattle Mariners have finalized a five-year, $92.5 million contract that has a full no-trade clause and no deferrals, sources tell ESPN.
Nov. 4
Chicago Cubs SP Shota Imanaga becomes free agent after team, player reject options for 2026
Nov. 3
Milwaukee Brewers exercise option on SP Freddy Peralta; SP Brandon Woodruff declines option
Boston Red Sox 3B Alex Bregman opts out of contract; SP Lucas Giolito declines option
New York Yankees OF Cody Bellinger declines option
New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso, RP Edwin Díaz opt out of contracts
Key offseason dates
Nov. 6: Free agency begins at 5 p.m. ET
Nov. 10-13: GM meetings in Las Vegas
Nov. 18-20: Owners meetings in New York
Nov. 18: Deadline to accept or reject qualifying offer
Nov. 21: Non-tender deadline
Dec. 8-10: Winter meetings in Orlando
Dec. 9: MLB draft lottery
Dec. 10: Rule 5 draft
PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — An appeals court in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday ordered a new trial for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who was convicted earlier this year of sexually abusing a minor and had received a two-year suspended sentence.
Tuesday’s ruling comes after Franco’s attorneys had pushed to have his conviction suspended and sentencing overturned, while prosecutors had been seeking a five-year sentence.
The appeals court ruled in favor of Franco, ordering that a new panel of judges oversee the case.
“The court understood that there were many flaws, many omissions…many issues, and decided to send the case to a new trial,” said Teodosio Jáquez, Franco’s attorney.
Meanwhile, prosecutor José Martínez Montan, the district attorney for the province of Puerto Plata, where the case is being heard, said he maintains his belief in the evidence presented during the first trial earlier this year.
“In a new trial, the procedures will be reevaluated. We won the case in the first trial, and we expect the same in the new trial,” he said.
Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship.
In November 2021, Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract, but his career was upended when authorities in the Dominican Republic announced in August 2023 that they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time.
In January 2024, Franco was arrested in his home country. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave.
A panel of three judges in late June found him guilty of sexually abusing a minor and not guilty of charges of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking.
The judges also found the girl’s mother guilty of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering and sentenced her to 10 years in prison. At the time, one of the judges, Jakayra Veras García, criticized the mother and her request that Franco pay for her daughter’s schooling and other expenses.
“Apparently, she was the one who thought she was handling the bat in the big leagues,” Veras said in June.
The appeals court on Tuesday also granted the mother a new trial.
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