Texas missed their window to win a championship a few years back, and have been paying for it ever since. They have a jumbled lineup of veterans like Adrian Beltre and Shin-Soo Choo, then younger bats like Rougned Odor and Joey Gallo. The issue for Texas is the strikeout rates. They are rather high, and it has a lot to do with Odor and Gallo. Both have immense power, but can’t hit the side of a barn on some nights. Beltre has lost his power at his age, and isn’t a huge threat given today’s current third base options. Elvis Andrus has sort of diminished given the field of other shortstops, leaving Texas with a very mediocre core.
Starters
Bats like Jurickson Profar and Delino DeShields have been around in Texas since they were high prospects, but the hype has faded, and so has their play. Both are more in play against left-handed pitching given their ability to make contact. Ronald Guzman is a young first base option who is starting to get more time in the lineup. Nomar Mazara is one of the better younger contact bats for the Rangers, but also has some power from the left side. The issue with all the lefties is when they face left-handed pitching, they often do not have enough right-handed bats to platoon with. Robinson Chirinos is one of the better hitters against left-handed pitching, and is their everyday catcher as well. Bench players like Carlos Perez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ryan Rua, and Carlos Tocci are not striking any fear in pitcher’s eyes. Texas is far behind in the AL West, and in the league in general. The Rangers will have their moments in that ballpark in the sun, but overall their production is going to be subpar for most of this season.
Confirmed
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