Texas Rangers: Ariel Jurado optioned; Tommy John rotation is set

With Ariel Jurado optioned to the minors, the Texas Rangers’ rotation is set. All I can say is “we’ll see how this goes” (with a skeptical tone).

The Texas Rangers have optioned starting pitcher Ariel Jurado to Triple-A Nashville. His chances of making the opening day rotation were remote, but we’re now certain it won’t happen. With Jurado now absent from camp, five starting arms remain — Mike Minor, Lance Lynn, Drew Smyly, Edinson Volquez and Shelby Miller.

If you’ve followed the Rangers at all this offseason, you know that four of those starters have recently undergone Tommy John surgery. Minor is the only exception; however, he’s dealt with his own arm issues in the past, having missed all of 2015 and 2016 recovering from shoulder surgery.

Minor isn’t much of concern, nor is Lynn, who has pitched 342 innings since his return from TJ surgery. Smyly, Volquez, and Miller, on the other hand, are concerning.

Smyly has not thrown a major league pitch since 2016. He was in the Chicago Cubs’ organization last year, and did get one inning of minor league work in before the season ended. He’s had plenty of time to strengthen his arm since, so he should be at full strength come his first regular season start with Texas.

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Volquez hasn’t thrown in the bigs since July of 2017. He’s had over a year and a half to recover and progress.

Miller managed 16 innings for the Diamondbacks last season after missing almost all of 2017 due to surgery. His short work did not go well, as he pitched to a 10.69 ERA and  an 0-4 record.

The Rangers have taken it easy on all three this spring, justifiably so. Miller’s thrown just 8 innings, Volquez 10 and Smyly 5.1. Even once the season begins, expect Texas to protect each arm by going bullpen heavy in games that any of the three start.

The good news is all has gone well throughout February and March. Their projected rotation has stayed healthy and suffered no setbacks. Health is most important, though each rotation member has also shown encouraging signs from a performance standpoint.

Still, there are no guarantees this year. It’s one thing to expect health, but it’s another to expect quality. We can envision great seasons from these recovered pitchers as much as we’d like, but they’re the ones who must prove they can still hang at the big league level.

We’ll get a good feel early on with the Texas Rangers taking on the stout offenses of the Cubs, Astros and Angels in the first three series of the year.