Everyone is talking about Lance Lynn, Mike Minor and Corey Kluber. There is good reason for that. Kluber has a career ERA of 3.16, Minor’s is 3.90, and Lynn has a career ERA of 3.59. Since 1994, the Texas Rangers as a club have only had an ERA that low in 4 seasons. They may make up the best top three in Rangers history. At least they would be in the conversation.
We tend to forget about Jordan Lyles (2.45 ERA in 2019 in eleven starts) and Kyle Gibson (4.52 career ERA). Both guys could turn out to be steals for the organization. During the 2019 season, Gibson averaged a strikeout per inning, while Lyles accomplished almost the same thing (56 k’s in 58 innings).
I tend to believe that the season will come down to these two gentlemen being healthy and getting the job done. We know what the first three can bring if healthy, but the key to winning 32+ games will be with the number four and number five starters. It Lyles and Gibson can manage six wins each, I think this team makes the post season.
We know from our most recent podcast that the Rangers rotation is better than the A’s or the Angels rotation. We know the Angels are going to be able to stroke the ball hard. It will definitely come down to pitching against those two teams. The Mariners are always a question mark, and the Astros will once again be the favorites going forward in 2020. No one can blame people for thinking that with Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke as their one and two punch. After that they are not as talented as the Rangers rotation in my opinion.
I could be wrong, but if the first three win seven each, and Lyles and Gibson win six, the Rangers will be 34 game winners. That should be enough for the post season. This is a lot of if’s, I know, but I keep thinking that a sixty game season may play in the Rangers favor. It should be a fun season to watch. History will not forget the sixty game season. Texas has a good shot to make it a memorable season for its fans as well.
