With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. We’ll be starting off with the west coast and moving our way to the east. Today, we focus on the American League West.
Texas Rangers
2018 record: 67-95, 5th in AL West
Projected Lineup: Starting Rotation: Key Bullpen Pieces: Key Bench Pieces:
DH Shin-Soo Choo RH Lance Lynn RH Jose Leclerc IF/DH Matt Davidson
2B Rougned Odor LH Mike Minor RH Jesse Chavez OF Hunter Pence
SS Elvis Andrus RH Shelby Miller RH Shawn Kelley
LF Joey Gallo LH Drew Smyly
RF Nomar Mazara RH Edinson Volquez
3B Asdrubal Cabrera
1B Ronald Guzman
C Isiah Kiner-Falefa
CF Delino DeShields
I don’t think there will be much of a disagreement when I say that the Rangers easily have the weakest lineup in the AL West. No disrespect to them, but it’s true. This was not a team that hit for average in 2018. In fact, as a team, Texas hit just .240 which was eighth worst in the league. They have a few pieces like Choo, Odor and Mazara but the loss of Adrian Beltre brings them down a bit more. We know Gallo can hit bombs with 40 last year, but he accompanied that with a .206 average and 207 strikeouts, something he needs to desperately cut down on.
The rotation is filled with typical back end guys, top to bottom. Lynn will be the veteran of the staff with no true number 1. Smyly has not pitched in a big league game in over 2 years, since the 2017 WBC. Volquez is coming off of 2018 recovering from Tommy John. Miller is hoping to finally have a bounce back year after 3+ years of mediocrity. Minor is probably considered the “ace” of this staff after a decent 2018, pitching to a 4.18 ERA and leading the Rangers in WAR with 3.8.
Jose Leclerc is a name to watch in 2019 for the Rangers as he was sneakily one of the best relievers in baseball last year. 1.56 ERA, 85 strikeouts, a FIP of 1.90 and WHIP of 0.850. If you ask me, he will continue this dominance going further and earn an All Star selection in 2019.
It seems to be a true rebuilding year for the Rangers who know they have no chance to win the division. In 2019, they can take a step back and assess what they have for the future. They have a good core to build around in Odor, Gallo and Mazara but there’s a lot to be done down in Arlington before heading over to the new Globe Life Park in 2020.
2019 prediction: 5th in AL West
