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Four Reasons Why The Rangers Will Compete For A Playoff Spot

By Cody Smith

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 27: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #9 (L) and Jose Leclerc #62 of the Texas Rangers celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners 2-0 during their game at Safeco Field on September 27, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 27: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #9 (L) and Jose Leclerc #62 of the Texas Rangers celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners 2-0 during their game at Safeco Field on September 27, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 27: Mike Minor #36 of the Texas Rangers throws against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 27, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Revamped Pitching Rotation

Mike Minor will likely be the only familiar face in the starting rotation on opening day. He was very solid for the team last season, and he’ll look to continue the tear he was on after the 2018 All-Star break (6-2 with a 2.97 ERA).

Lance Lynn is also going to be a part of the Rangers rotation. Although he’s coming off the worst year of his career, he did start to turn it around after being traded to the Yankees. He’ll make the Rangers very happy if he can return to his pre-2018 self, in which his career-high ERA was 3.78.

Edinson Volquez is getting ready for his MLB return after having Tommy John surgery. He deserves some optimism as well. Volquez said his arm is feeling great. Hopefully, that means he will continue doing what he was doing in 2017 when he posted a 4.19 ERA across 17 starts. You may recall one of those starts resulting in a no-hitter.

Drew Smyly is an interesting case, having not pitched since the 2016 season in his recovery from Tommy John. Smyly has been reliable throughout his career and has a respectable 3.74 ERA. If he can stay healthy, look for him to have a solid season for the club.

SURPRISE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Shelby Miller #19 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait on photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Shelby Miller #19 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait on photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Shelby Miller is one of the low-risk, high-reward players that the Rangers have been going after the past few seasons, as he looks to complete his first full season since his Tommy John surgery in 2017 that cost him to miss the majority of that season, as well as most of 2018. He was a disaster in Arizona, having posted a 6.35 ERA there across 3 seasons full of injuries. Hopefully, the change of scenery can help him return to what he was with the Braves and Cardinals, where he posted a 3.22 ERA and was an All-Star in 2015.

Jesse Chavez is a familiar face for Rangers fans, as he was here for about half of the 2018 season before he was traded to the Cubs. Chavez was a reliever for all of last season, but the club could look at him as a starter if some of the other options don’t work out. Regardless, he will be a solid piece to either the bullpen or rotation.

There are also a plethora of young guys that could jump into the starting rotation, such as Jordan Romano, Brock Burke, Taylor Hearn, Ariel Jurado, Yohander Mendez, and Joe Palumbo. Any of those guys could make it into the starting rotation with a solid spring, or with good outings in the minors that force management’s hand to call them up.

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