The Sunday Read: Rangers equipped for stretch run, but here’s how they can be better

(AP photo/Gene J. Puskar)

ARLINGTON — The annual Do It For Durrett fundraiser is Friday, which meant it was time last week to call Ron Washington to see which auction items he had procured from Braves players and visiting teams to Atlanta.

The conversation turned to baseball, as it always does. The Braves are the best team in the game with MVP candidate Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson. Washington was quick to stick up for Ozzie Albies, who was playing like an MVP before hitting the injured list.

Washington still follows his old team and said that the Rangers are going to the postseason, either by winning the American League West or via a wild-card berth. Fans might have some doubts after watching their past three games, all losses.

That’s the way baseball go, even for playoff-caliber teams.

As Washington is also found of saying, there is no perfection in baseball. Every team can be better, and the Rangers need to be better to fend off the Astros and the hard-charging Mariners.

Here are three areas they can address.