Texas Rangers bold predictions: One from each member of our staff

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CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 2: Joey Gallo #13 celebrates with Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers after Mazara hit a solo home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on May 2, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

The Rangers will be better than you think

That’s right, all you pessimists and Jon Daniels haters, 2019 won’t be as bad as you think. I’m not saying they’re going to compete for the pennant or anything. Far from it. This season is what the Rangers have coined a “development year.” Essentially, they’re in year two of a massive rebuild, so it makes sense to think they’ll be AL West cellar dwellers for another season. But I think things will turn out better than most people think.

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Nomar Mazara was set to have his breakout season last year until he hurt his thumb. Rougned Odor seemed to have figured out things at the plate during the second half of last season. Joey Gallo has adjusted his swing and is hitting the ball to the opposite field. With a full season under his belt, Ronald Guzman might finally unleash the power we all know is hiding under his large, condor-like frame. I have faith that this lineup can produce runs.

The pitching is the question. The rotation is shaky, that’s for sure, but the pitchers the Rangers have assembled are good enough to make a run. Mike Minor proved he can still get outs, and Lance Lynn, Drew Smyly, Shelby Miller, and Edinson Volquez are wily veterans coming off injuries who will grind out games for Texas. They’ll be struggles, for sure, and if any of those guys are really dealing come July they’ll probably get dealt. But the bullpen is solid, and the starters will do enough.

My bold prediction? The Rangers will finish ahead of the Mariners and the Angels for sure, and they might even be in the wild card chase as far as August.

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