3. Texas Rangers
Over the last two regular seasons, no American League team has been better than the Rangers. During the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Texas went 183-141 and won two American League West crowns.
But we are far from sure the 2017 team will be anywhere near that good. The Rangers have an explosive offense, but the pitching staff is troubling.
Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish sit atop the Texas starting starting rotation. That’s not the problem. The problem comes after them. In 60 percent of their games, the Rangers are set to throw out any three of Martin Perez, A.J. Griffin, Mike Hauschild, Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and Chi Chi Gonzalez.
We’d have a hard time expressing optimism in any ballpark. But given that Texas plays half its games at the notoriously hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington, that’s a real recipe for disaster.
To make things worse, the pitching problems don’t stop there.
The Rangers had one of baseball’s worst bullpens in 2016. The relievers posted a 4.40 ERA, better than only the Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies — five teams that were nowhere near a winning record. Texas didn’t do a whole heck of a lot to improve that bullpen in the offseason.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, we’re expecting the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners to be tougher in 2017. So, fighting through the American League West will be a chore.
If we put all of that together, we have a Rangers team that’s quite vulnerable and susceptible to a disappointing 2017 season.