Series Preview #35: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Texas Rangers

Less than two years ago, the Texas Rangers completed back-to-back division titles, winning 95 games. This season, they’re on pace to win only 68 and finish last in the AL West, a spectacular fall from grace. What happened? Several things. First, the 2016 team were this decade’s version of the 2007 D-backs: incredibly lucky to win 95 games. They only outscored their opponents by eight runs, and by fWAR, ranked 16th for hitting and 22nd for pitching in the majors. But they went a staggering 36-11 in one-run games that year. Over the season and two-thirds since? 24-39.

That said, neither their hitting nor pitching are as good: the former ranks 18th, and the latter is 26th. It has mostly been…