The Rangers made a big upgrade to their pitching rotation by adding Corey Kluber in a trade. In a competitive American League West division, this upgrade could help the Rangers down the stretch. Kluber isn’t the only pitcher that the Rangers added this offseason. Here is a potential pitching rotation for the Texas Rangers to start the 2020 season.
There’s a pretty fair chance that Corey Kluber will start the season as the team’s ace. He only made seven starts in 2019 where he didn’t do too well. Kluber had a 5.80 ERA while allowing 44 hits in just 35 2/3 innings pitched. The 33-year-old still has quality career numbers. His MLB ERA is a solid 3.16. He also has a career WHIP of 1.086. Heading into the season, his strikeout-to-walk ratio is an impressive 1491/262. Kluber may be making his Rangers debut in Seattle in their first regular season game of 2020.
Mike Minor had a productive campaign in 2019. He made his first All-Star game, and he even finished eighth in the American League Cy Young voting. Minor also smashed his single-season strikeout record by recording 200 strikeouts in 2019. The southpaw also surpassed 1000 career innings pitched in the MLB as he is now listed at 1095 2/3. Through those innings, he has a complete game shutout along with a 3.90 ERA. He could provide some quality starts with the Rangers this season.
Lance Lynn doesn’t typically get put in the same category as Justin Verlander or Jacob deGrom. However, he does provide teams with some useful outings. Like Minor, he beat his single-season strikeout record by picking up 246 of them in 2019. It was his first season with the Rangers, and he posted an ERA+ of 141 over 208 1/3 innings pitched. In addition, he finished in fifth for the AL Cy Young voting in 2019.
Image from AP Photo/Craig Lassig
Another pitcher the Rangers have added is Kyle Gibson. Gibson spent seven seasons with the Twins before signing a three-year deal with Texas. Gibson has had some ups-and-downs in his time as a big leaguer. For example, in 2018 he recorded a 3.62 ERA through 32 starts and 196 2/3 innings pitched. The following season in 2019, he had a 4.84 ERA in 160 innings through 34 appearances (29 starts.) Gaining consistency can help the 32-year-old have a nice season on the mound.
The Rangers are Jordan Lyles‘ sixth MLB team. He’s spent time with the Astros, Rockies, Padres, Brewers and Pirates since his 2011 debut. His best numbers are possibly with Milwuakee. He spent some of 2018 and some of 2019 with them. Over 75 innings pitched with the Brewers, he had a 2.64 ERA. Lyles has been pretty consistent over the last few seasons. His 2018 total ERA was 4.11 while it was 4.15 in 2019. Numbers similar to this can be quality from a five starter in a big-league rotation.
Feature Image Courtesy of Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports.
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