At this time last season, the Texas Rangers were 52-39 entering the second half of a season in which they would lose the division on the final day of the regular season before going on to win the World Series as a Wild Card team.

Flash forward a year later and Texas is 46-50 as we head into the second half of the season.

However, things may be starting to look up for a Rangers team that has failed to meet expectations so far in 2024. In their three series before the break, Texas swept Tampa Bay at home before taking two of three from both the Angels and Astros on the road.

With 66 games left, the Rangers still have plenty of time to try and wiggle their way back into the postseason picture. With that being said, let’s break down five Rangers storylines to watch for in the second half

1 When and how will Josh Jung come back? – In a lineup riddled with stars like Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Adolis Garica, it’s weird to say that Josh Jung is the X factor but in his long absence that has been the case.

Jung has played four games this season after being hit on the wrist way back on April 1st. Several setbacks in rehab have delayed Jung’s return but Texas expects to have him back sooner rather than later.

If Jung can come back strong, the Rangers offense adds a whole different dynamic, one that made them the best offense in baseball last season.

2 Can Evan Carter be the player we saw in 2023 – 21-year-old Evan Carter took the MLB by storm in 2023.

In 23 regular season games, Carter slashed .306/.413/.645 with 5 home runs and 12 RBI. Just weeks later in the postseason, the Rangers’ 21-year-old phenom was regularly hitting in the three-hole on a World Series-winning team.

Like much of the time, Evan Carter’s start to the 2024 season was slow and eventually led to him being placed on the I.L.

Carter was placed on the IL with a lumbar sprain way back on May 27th but could be back on a minor league rehab assignment very soon.

Much like Jung, if Evan Carter can come back and swing it the way he did last season, the Rangers offense can return to it’s elite form.

Will Jacob deGrom push the Rangers over the top? – Just in case you forgot, the Texas Rangers still have Jacob deGrom on their roster.

Recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, deGrom has pitched just six games in a Rangers uniform since signing with Texas prior to last season.

deGrom has been ramping back up and is expected to return sometime in August. When he finally takes the mound, the Rangers will have made the best “trade deadline” acquisition in all of baseball.

Even if Jacob deGrom is just a fraction of what he was before his second T.J surgery, the Texas Rangers are instantly a better baseball team.

4 How aggressive will the Rangers be at the Trade Deadline? – Last season when the Rangers desperately needed pitching depth at the deadline, Chris Young went out and got Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery, two pieces who ended up being pivotal in the Rangers World Series run.

Nothing to that magnitude will happen for Texas this deadline but to say they won’t be active isn’t totally realistic.

A Rangers turnaround starts with getting players of their own like Adolis Garica, Jonah Heim, and Nathaniel Lowe going but Texas could still go out and add a few pieces if they are in a good position to do so.

If the Rangers do decide to make some deadline deals, expect them to be lower-level trades potentially for a depth bat and one or two bullpen pieces.

5 Can Kirby Yates keep up this level of excellence – One difference on the positive side when you compare the 2023 Texas Rangers to the 2024 Texas Rangers is that fans aren’t anxious every time there is a save opportunity.

That reason being All-Star closer Kirby Yates. In 26 games this season Yates has just a 1.05 ERA and is a perfect 16-16 in save opportunities.

Sure, relievers have hot and cold streaks just like hitters but what Yates has done in a pretty big sample size is something that Rangers fans have been longing for.

A run like this is hard to keep up but Yates has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon.