The Rangers activated designated hitter Joc Pederson off of the 60-day injured list before Sunday’s series finale vs. the Atlanta Braves at Globe Life Field. Pederson, 33, hasn’t played since his hand was broken by a Bryse Wilson pitch in a May 24 game against the Chicago White Sox.

Things have been looking up in Texas recently. The Rangers have won five straight games, 14 of their last 20, and and 26 of their last 41. According to

In 2025, Detroit Tigers reliever Luke Jackson has posted a 4.11 ERA with 19 walks and 24 strikeouts across 35 innings in 39 games for the Texas Rangers.

If Pederson can be an improved version of his first-half self, his return could prove a boon for a Rangers team in the middle of a playoff push.

Rangers veteran All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien made it clear when he addressed what this deadline means. "I want to be adding at the deadline," Semien said in the Rangers clubhouse after a recent game. "I always want to make that a goal of mine: To make sure I'm on a team that is adding at the deadline."

Texas still holds the best team ERA in baseball and by a good margin, 3.18 to the second-place Royals' 3.50. The bullpen of mixed parts and pieces remains among the best in baseball, their ERA second in MLB behind the Astros.

Jul 26, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (2) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the tenth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Globe Life Field. / Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Outstanding pitching and the Texas Rangers, historically, are not two things that go together. But this Rangers pitching staff is writing their own narrative.