The Texas Rangers went 4-2 during a pivotal homestand, riding Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and timely power back into the AL playoff picture.

A week that began with the Texas Rangers looking like they might be slipping out of contention ended with them holding an American League playoff spot and breathing down the Houston Astros’ necks.

Texas went 4-2 from Aug. 3 through Aug. 9, taking two of three from both the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Field. The Rangers finished Sunday at 59-59, one game behind Houston in the AL West and holding the third AL Wild Card position.

That’s a pretty good recovery considering where this team stood Monday night.

San Francisco opened the week by beating Texas 5-1, extending the Rangers’ season-worst losing streak to six games. Suddenly, a team that had spent much of the summer fighting for the AL West lead was searching for a way to stop the bleeding.

Ezequiel Duran supplied it.

Duran drove in four runs Tuesday, including the game-winner on a walk-off double, as Texas escaped with a 5-4 victory and finally ended the skid.

Then came one of the Rangers’ most encouraging developments of the season.

Cody Bradford returned to a major-league mound Wednesday for the first time in 679 days and delivered 4⅓ scoreless innings in a 6-0 Rangers victory. Brandon Nimmo drove in two runs, including a home run, as Texas completed the turnaround and won the series.

After Thursday’s off day, the Rangers’ pitching took over against Baltimore.

Nathan Eovaldi worked through trouble Friday and Texas received all the offense it needed when Joc Pederson delivered a clutch two-run homer in a 2-1 victory. The Rangers also preserved the win with a huge defensive relay in the ninth inning.

Saturday belonged to Jacob deGrom.

The Rangers’ ace struck out nine while allowing only one run on three hits over five innings in a 5-1 victory. Texas gave him an early lead before Corey Seager removed any remaining drama with a three-run homer in the eighth. The victory was the Rangers’ fourth straight and improved deGrom to 8-7 on the season.

For a moment, Texas had gone from a six-game losing streak to the verge of sweeping Baltimore.

Sunday brought the Rangers back to earth.

Kumar Rocker struggled early in a 10-5 loss, allowing six runs in three-plus innings after surrendering only five total runs over his previous three starts. Pete Alonso homered twice and drove in four for Baltimore, while Colton Cowser and Tyler O’Neill also went deep.

There was at least one significant development even in defeat.

Jordan Montgomery made his first major-league appearance since September 2024, working four innings after returning from Tommy John surgery. He allowed three runs on six hits in his Rangers debut. Brandon Nimmo provided Texas’ biggest offensive blow with a three-run homer.

Sunday’s loss snapped the four-game winning streak, but it didn’t erase what Texas accomplished.

The Rangers began the week reeling. They finished it at .500, just one game behind Houston in the AL West, and — perhaps most importantly — in possession of the American League’s final Wild Card spot. Detroit sits one game behind Texas, with Minnesota and Cleveland 1.5 games back and Baltimore two games out.

Now the pressure increases.

The Rangers leave Arlington for a pivotal road trip beginning Monday against the Los Angeles Angels. With Houston within striking distance and a pack of Wild Card contenders sitting directly behind them, Texas doesn’t have much room for another extended slump.

But after the way this week started, the Rangers will gladly take where it ended.

They’re still alive in the AL West.

They’re currently in the playoffs.

And with deGrom, Eovaldi and potentially a healthy Bradford and Montgomery available for the stretch run, the Rangers have given themselves a chance to make August and September very interesting.