The Texas Rangers finished the 2022 season with a record of 60-102. Not the worst record in Rangers history (their first season in Texas they won only 54 games), but pretty darn close. The pitching was not good. The Rangers had a team ERA of 4.79 (third worst in the AL). They had the least amount of save opportunities, gave up the third most hits and gave up the third most home runs. Jordan Lyles and Mike Foltynewicz led the way with the most homers given by a pitcher. They were one and two in that category.
Competitive baseball will be back in the next few years, but until then, the team needs to put together a roster for 2022. The following is my first guess, and it comes one day after the last game of the season. So enjoy, and feel free to debate or tell me where I am wrong.
The Starting Rotation:
This will not change very much from the one I did around a month ago, but it will change some.
- Chris Archer – I still hold the belief that the Rangers are not going to spend in the off-season. Following the success of Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and Mike Minor, the Rangers are going to go for another low cost, high reward guy, and Archer fits the mold perfectly. I am standing by my prediction of Archer.
- Taylor Hearn – Taylor had a fairly strong September and he has earned his spot in the 2022 rotation. The Rangers believe he can be a frontline starter, and I tend to agree.
- Dane Dunning – Dunning did not finish strong his last start, but the Rangers saw enough to make him a starter again in 2022. Dunning was the key in the Lance Lynn trade, and I believe he has a real chance of working out in 2022. He has the stuff, if he can put it all together he can be scary good.
- Kolby Allard – Allard was not fantastic, but he was pretty good in 2021. He showed flashes of brilliance during the season, and I think he can build off of what he did in 2021. Allard was also my pre-season prediction for pitcher to watch so I’m just bragging a little bit.
- Spencer Howard – I went back and forth between Howard and A.J. Alexy, but I think Howard will win out in the end. He is projected to be better, and again he showed flashes. He will have a full off-season with the Rangers to prepare for the 2022 season, and I think the Rangers like him enough that he will win the spot and not Alexy. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was wrong though.
The Bullpen:
I have a feeling this will be in flux for most of the off-season, but this is my early crack at who will be in the pen.
Joe Barlow – Closer
Mike Foltynewicz
So there you have it. Part on of my predictions for the 2022 season. Enjoy, debate, and be sure to join our Patreon for exclusive articles and podcast you can’t read or hear anywhere else.
