Texas Rangers: Jordan Lyles Can Cement Confidence in Starting Rotation

Jordan Lyles is set to start Saturday night and can help reaffirm the confidence in the Texas Rangers starting rotation after losing Corey Kluber to injury.

The Texas Rangers rotation entered the season with high hopes looking like one of the top starter groups in the league on paper. Much of that optimism and confidence quickly eroded though when headline offseason acquisition Corey Kluber exited his debut for the team after just one inning. Kluber was diagnosed with a tear in his teres major, a muscle in his right shoulder. Sidelined for at least a month, the one elite element of this Rangers’ squad looks far less potent. Saturday though, another offseason acquisition, Jordan Lyles, can go a long way to cementing the confidence in the rotation that is waning just a week into the season.

Lyles joined the team as a free agent signing this past offseason with hopes of bolstering a rotation headlined by Lance Lynn and Mike Minor. Brought in to represent a solid back end of the rotation option, with Kluber’s absence, Lyles role takes on more meaning with Texas a team in desperate need of quality starts each and every game.

The addition of Lyles was one with the potential to pay off in a big way. His career 5.09 ERA is not a stat that pops off the page but at various points in recent years he’s shown the ability to be a quality starter. The 29-year old split the 2019 season between the Pirates and Brewers posting drastically different splits. His time with Milwaukee was the best period of his career making 11 starts with a 2.45 ERA and a 7-1 record. Texas signed Lyles with the hopes that they can help recreate some of that success and add another top arm to their rotation.

Lyles has an appearance under his belt already this season, albeit in relief. Lyles threw two scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks striking out two and not allowing a hit. Saturday night  in the second game of a three game series against the Giants, Lyles will get his first opportunity to start for Texas. The Rangers have struggled to open the season sitting at just 2-4 with a lot of attention being paid to how poor the offense and defense have been. The rotation is really the main saving grace for this team and despite regular impressive outings, the feeling around the team is trending towards the pessimistic. A strong outing from Lyles could help regain a little bit of faith and cement the confidence that many had in the rotation had pre-Kluber injury.