<body><div> Chart: Axios Visuals The Rangers took the second spot in Axios' latest Major League Baseball power rankings after spending most of May on the road. Texas also has the second-best record in baseball right now. Driving the news: The Rangers are back in Arlington tonight for the beginning of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><hr><ul><li> Then they face the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_World_Series#:~:text=The%20107th%20edition%20of%20the,their%20second%20in%20six%20seasons." rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> St. Louis Cardinals </a> at home on Monday. </li></ul> The big picture: Texas has the <a href="https://www.teamrankings.com/mlb/stat/runs-per-game" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> best offense </a> in baseball, leading the majors in runs per game. <ul><li> Plus: They also have one of the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/top-10-mlb-pitching-rotations-2023" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> best starting rotations </a> in the league — something highly unfamiliar to longtime Rangers fans. </li></ul> Amazing stat: Texas' run differential is +131 through 55 games, putting them on pace for +386 — which would be second only to the 1939 Joe DiMaggio-led Yankees (+411) for the <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/which-mlb-team-had-the-best-run-differential-season" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> best mark </a> in MLB's modern era (since 1900). By the numbers: The team was 18-9 in May, the Rangers' highest win percentage in a month since June 2016, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/dane-dunning-rangers-wrap-strong-road-trip-vs-tigers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> per MLB </a> . <ul><li> They've set a franchise record for the first 55 games of the season with 35 wins. </li><li> Adolis Garcia and Marcus Semien lead the team in runs batted in, with 49 and 44, respectively. </li></ul><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Catch up fast: The team has been great despite some star player absences. <ul><li> Still-new ace pitcher Jacob deGrom has been out since late April with elbow inflammation. He likely won't return for a couple more weeks but has thrown some <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-bullpen-sessin-jacob-degrom-elbow-injury-rehab-steps-after-road-trip-update" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> bullpen sessions </a> . </li><li> Shortstop Corey Seager <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-corey-seager-shortstop-sick-hamstring-activated-injury-list-atlanta-braves-update" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> returned mid-May </a> after a monthlong absence due to a hamstring strain. </li></ul> Yes, but: Even with a .636 record, the Rangers are a few games ahead of the Houston Astros in the surprisingly competitive AL West. <ul><li> Four of the five teams in the division have a record over .500. </li></ul> What's next: The first round of <a href="https://www.mlb.com/all-star/ballot/thank-you" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> voting </a> is open to pick which players will appear in the All-Star game July 11, the season's midway point. The bottom line: With the Dallas Stars run over, it's time to start getting excited about another local team. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

Chart: Axios VisualsThe Rangers took the second spot in Axios' latest Major League Baseball power rankings after spending most of May on the road. Texas also has the second-best record in baseball right now.Driving the news: The Rangers are back in Arlington tonight for the beginning of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.Then they face the St. Louis Cardinals at home on Monday.The big picture: Texas has the best offense in baseball, leading the majors in runs per game.Plus: They also have one of the best starting rotations in the league — something highly unfamiliar to longtime Rangers fans.Amazing...