3 Surprise Rangers Who Could Make the Postseason Roster
By Tyler Maher
The 2023 MLB Playoffs start next week, and if the regular season ended today, the Texas Rangers would be in them. They currently hold a 2.5-game lead over the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West with six games to play. Barring a crazy final week, the Rangers should make the playoffs.
If they do, they'll need to adjust their roster a bit. After playing with 28 players in September, Texas can only carry 26 in the playoffs.
While the majority of spots would be easy decisions, there might be a few roster spots still up for grabs. That could open the door for a couple of unexpected players to make the roster at the last minute.
With that in mind, here three surprise Rangers who might make the postseason roster.
3 Surprise Rangers on Postseason Roster
1. Jake Latz
Considering that Latz spent most of the season at Triple-A (and didn't pitch particularly well there), it would definitely be surprising if he made the postseason roster.
Still, it wouldn't be totally shocking or undeserved.
For starters, Latz is a lefty, which definitely gives him a leg up compared to some of the other fringe relievers on the roster. Many of the best hitters in baseball bat left-handed, so having a southpaw like Latz to neutralize them could come in handy.
Second of all, Latz pitched well in his season debut earlier this month, tossing a pair of hitless and scoreless innings to close out a game. The ability to go multiple innings is critical in the playoffs, too, when starters typically have a quick hook and only go 4 or 5 frames.
Latz showcased that versatility in Triple-A this year as a starter (5 starts), reliever (41 relief appearances) and closer (7 saves). His closing experience means he's able to handle high-leverage situations as well, which could also give him a leg up when it comes time to fill out the roster.
So while he may not be an obvious choice, Latz is a surprisingly solid option who could add some nice depth to the bullpen.