Texas needs their Astro-killer in the big three-game series in Houston
By most metrics, Adolis García is having a down year. “El Bombi” is batting just .233 with a .680 OPS. With only about a dozen games left in the season, he’s on pace to finish with 19 home runs and 79 RBIs—both of which would be his lowest totals since his breakout in 2021.
The silver lining? García still has a chance to turn things around. A strong showing in a crucial three-game series against the Astros in Houston could help redeem his underwhelming season—and remind everyone why he’s earned the reputation as a notorious Astros nemesis.
The Rangers are currently chasing the Astros for the final wild-card playoff spot. If you’ve attended any recent Silver Boot Series games in Houston, you’ve probably heard Astros fans booing García—a sign of just how much damage he did to them in 2023, during both the regular season and the American League Championship Series. That kind of reaction is a backhanded compliment—a reflection of just how clutch and dominant he’s been against Houston.
Now, the Rangers are hoping for a repeat performance from the man who captured the 2023 ALCS MVP award. They’re locked in a tight race with both Houston and Seattle, and they need García to step up.
In last year’s seven-game ALCS—on the way to the franchise’s first-ever World Series title—García was unstoppable. He batted .357, collected 10 hits, smashed 5 home runs, drove in 15 runs, and scored 7 times. In the decisive Game 7, he went 4-for-5 with two homers, 5 RBIs, and 3 runs scored, virtually carrying the team into the World Series.
If the Rangers hope to keep their playoff hopes alive, they’ll need that version of El Bombi again—the one who exuded confidence and was nearly impossible to get out.
