Rangers name Scheppers starter, Soria closer

Performance is the name of the game, and in these two instances, the performers earned it.

It was announced by the team, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, that Tanner Scheppers will be embarking upon his first campaign as a starter in the Majors, and Joakim Soria has stood out far above Neftali Feliz and will be the closer on the club.

Scheppers made an impact last year as one of the best setup men in the league, going 6-2 with an excellent 1.88 ERA over 76.2 innings in 76 games. He struck out 59 and was also considered a candidate as a closer at one point. This Spring, however, Scheppers proved more than capable of handling a starting job, going 1-1 over three starts with a 3.07 ERA with 14 strikeouts. His most recent appearance was against the Milwaukee Brewers, a start that saw him struggle early, giving up two runs, but then settling down and making adjustments. He went six innings, and those two runs were all that he surrendered.

Joakim Soria will be entering his first full campaign after returning from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss all of 2012. He signed a two-year deal with the Rangers after that season for $8 million. The contract includes a 2015 team option. Soria was able to return in the second half as a setup man, amassing a 3.80 ERA in 23.2 innings with a 10.6 K/9 ratio.