Texas Rangers: Predictions For the 2015 Season

Feb 24, 2015; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Derek Holland (45) throws to first base during spring training camp at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching MVP: 

Heath: Derek Holland. Without a doubt. He will step up and the ace of the staff. I think he continues what he started at the end of last year. He will not have an ERA under 2 but it will be in the 3’s and he will have at least 12 wins.

Ryan: Derek Holland, I think he wins 15+ games this year and strikes out over 200.

Lisa: This is more complicated for me. I’d like to say Derek Holland, but in reality I think it will be Yovani Gallardo. Gallardo is more experienced and he is used to carrying the weight of the pitching staff on his shoulders.

Leslie: That’s a tough one. I will say Colby Lewis.

David Hill:  Yovani Gallardo. While he may not be Yu Darvish, he is the type of pitcher that should have success in Arlington. A 15-10 record with an ERA around 3.30 would not be a surprise.Jason:

Jason: While Holland and Gallardo are arguably the best pitchers in the rotation, I’m just biding my time until Alex Gonzalez joins them in Texas. Yes, Chi Chi is my pick. He’ll get some time in Triple-A, but when he’s ready he’ll be hanging with the big boys!

Colin: Colby Lewis. Surprise! Yeah, Colby is older. And he’s thrown some serious muffin balls in Arizona that may have eventually come back to earth near the Grand Canyon, but coming back from injuries last year Lewis was consistently good for a solid 6 innings a start. The first out of the 7^th was hard for him to find, but I think this year Colby settles in and shows the form he had as the first Rangers pitcher to ever win a World Series game.

Ace: Derek Holland, SP

An ERA under 4 and over 200 innings seals the deal, no questions asked.

But hopefully for Derek Holland he also takes another step in his progression after a nightmare start to 2014. You know, the dog-stairs-hockey injury or whatever.

When he finally did throw his 37 innings, he was a shutdown guy poised to resume his career as the Rangers number two starter to Yu Darvish. That may not happen again and obviously isn’t happening in 2015. Holland is still just 28 and is one of the few bright spots in the Rangers stable of arms to look up to as a veteran who can produce.

Next: Texas Rangers 2015 Breakout Prospect/Player