Texas Rangers: Ride out the pair of aces
The Rangers had the Blue Jays on the ropes in the postseason last year, but their pitching staff just could not provide the knockout blow.
Part of the reason the Rangers’ staff struggled is because it was without ace Yu Darvish all year. With Darvish back at some point early in the season, the Rangers have a staff that should be able to get enough guys out. When Darvish returns he’ll join a staff headlined by Cole Hamels. That’s an exciting one-two for Texas. Then fill in the rest of the staff with some combination of Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Martin Perez and AJ Griffin and this is a bona fide championship staff.
With a lineup as rife with talent as this Rangers club, it won’t take much improvement from the rotation. Between Adrian Beltre, Shin-Soo Choo, Rougned Odor and Prince Fielder, this team is going to score. They even added Ian Desmond in the offseason in hopes that a change of scenery and position will help him get back to being the excellent hitter he was over the last few seasons in Washington.
This Rangers team can flat out rake. We saw it in their flirtation with an ALDS upset over Toronto in 2015. If they keep hitting (they will), and solidify their starting rotation (they can), this Rangers team is going to surprise people right through the World Series.
Next: Toronto Blue Jays