Texas Rangers: Starting Rotation is the Key to Success

The 2017 season is World Series or bust for the Texas Rangers. Multiple high-caliber players are on expiring contracts and the team needs to make a push for the championship. The Rangers starting rotation is going to be the determining factor in this critical season.

Last season the Texas Rangers finished ninth in ERA in the American League. They finished 16th in the entire MLB last season in ERA. While that’s just one pitching statistic, and that’s counting the bullpen as well, the Rangers need to make improves in their rotation.

Over the off-season the team added veterans Andrew Cashner, and Tyson Ross to the mix. Cashner is coming off a terrible 2016 campaign where he posted a 5.25 ERA in 28 games (27 starts). Ross is recovering from thoracic outlet surgery, and it’s unknown when he’ll return this season.

While the Rangers did make additions they aren’t huge upgrades. The Rangers have starters A.J. Griffin and Martin Perez returning this season. Both are coming off mediocre campaigns in 2016, and need to rebound for the sake of the Rangers, and their own future.

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They also have the two-headed ace in Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish. Hamels is coming off an All-Star season in 2016 and is the most reliable option in the Rangers rotation. The down part is he posted a 16.20 ERA in the postseason.

Darvish remains the wildcard out of the bunch. He went 7-5 3.41 ERA in 17 starts last season. He’s only made 30 starts once in his four seasons with the Rangers. When healthy he’s one of the top pitchers in the game. He hasn’t been full healthy since 2014, and the Rangers desperately need him.

The offense can only carry the team for so long. Losing Ian Desmond and Mitch Moreland over the off-season hurt the organization. Prince Fielder retiring due to injury didn’t help, but now the Rangers need to change their focus.

They need to change their mentality from offense and turn it to pitching. That can be difficult in the AL, but pitching wins championships. The bats can only carry the team so far, and it’s time for a change of disposition in Arlington.