Rangers back home to face a tough opponent: ATL @ TEX 5/15-17

[Ephland]

The Rangers finished their road trip 7-3, and come back to the Grill sitting at 25-15, their best thru-40 start since 2012. They are +7 vs. 2022. They sport a +97 run differential.

In town is the Braves, also at 25-15 and also in first place. With them comes Luisangel Acuna's big brother Ronald, having himself a monster year so far.

The Rangers will (reportedly) be sending out Cody Bradford to make his MLB debut tonight, pushing back everyone in the rotation instead of replacing anyone. Dunning goes tomorrow, and Eovaldi matches up against Spencer Strider in Wednesday's battle of aces.

 

[Ephland]

Celebrating a Rangers broadcast legend

 

[Ephland]

Here's the freshly updated Top 100 Prospects list

11. Evan Carter, OF, Rangers

 

[Ephland]

Surprise team cracks Top 5 in Power Rankings

5) Rangers, 25-15 (last week: 7)

Though Jacob deGrom (right elbow inflammation) remains sidelined, another Rangers newcomer in 2023 has helped pick up the slack by doing his best deGrom impression. Nathan Eovaldi has turned in three consecutive scoreless outings, starting with his complete-game shutout against the Yankees on April 29. He followed that up with eight scoreless innings against the Angels, then struck out a career-high 12 over 8 2/3 scoreless frames on Thursday against the A's. Eovaldi has racked up 25 K's to just three walks over 25 2/3 spotless innings in that three-start span. He's a big reason the Rangers sit atop the AL West heading into Monday's series opener against the NL East-leading Braves.

 

[Ephland]

The surprising team off to a historic start

 

[saddles]

Hoping for at least this from Bradford tonight.

5 innings
2 runs
6 hits
2 walks
5 strikeouts

 

[saddles]

This is the seven year anniversary of The Punch. Happy Anniversary, Rougie!!!

 

[saddles]

Rangers from the new MLB Pipeline Top 100

11 Carter
51 White
58 Acuna
80 Leiter
81 Porter

And Termarr Johnson comes in at 22.

 

[saddles]

Jeff Wilson wonders if Bradford will simply be moved to the bullpen after this start. He suggests Yerry R. as a possibility to be sent down, like I mentioned last night. He also mentions John King as a possibility as well.

 

[Ephland]

Saw on another forum that the Braves may be throwing out a bullpen game tomorrow.

 

[Ephland]

MLB Power Rankings: Loaded AL East puts all five teams in top 10; Dodgers making noise

4

Rangers

Nathan Eovaldi has now gone at least eight innings in three straight starts. That's the first time in his career he's ever done that. Last outing, he established a new career high with 12 strikeouts. He's 33 years old.

25-15

 

[Ephland]

Unexpected contender tiers: From breakouts we saw coming to ... how the heck are they doing this?

Texas Rangers

How they've surprised us: By having balance offensively. The Rangers are getting production up and down their lineup, even with Corey Seager spending the past month recovering from a hamstring strain. Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia are still producing, and Marcus Semien has bounced back. Meanwhile, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Jung and Leody Taveras are each carrying an adjusted OPS above league average, and Jonah Heim, Texas' 6-foot-4 catcher, is hitting out of his mind.

Why it could continue: The Rangers have been without both Seager and Jacob deGrom all month, and yet they continue to win. Their starting rotation is good, their bullpen is solid and their lineup -- at least so far -- looks deep. The Astros are more talented, the Mariners are deeper and the Angels have more star power, but if their two best players are healthy and right, the Rangers might have just as good a chance as anyone to take the AL West.

Why they could fade: This should be obvious: The Rangers probably won't go far if deGrom is not healthy. They took a major risk by signing him to a five-year, $185 million contract over the offseason. Everybody in the industry knew it. The Rangers knew it, too. But they also knew this: When deGrom is healthy, he is the best, most electrifying pitcher in the majors. After a rough debut, deGrom posted a 1.35 ERA through his next five starts. But then he began nursing elbow inflammation that will keep him out at least another couple of weeks. Not even two months in, the Rangers are getting the full Jacob deGrom Experience.

MVP of their surprising start: Rangers starting pitchers finished the 2022 season with a 4.63 ERA, ranking 25th in the major leagues. It was a clear area of need for a team looking to vault itself into contention, as evidenced by the activity that dominated the ensuing offseason. But with deGrom hurt and Andrew Heaney battling through a 5.25 ERA, it has been Nathan Eovaldi -- perhaps the most unheralded of their starting-pitcher additions -- who has provided a major lift, sporting a 2.70 ERA through his first eight starts.

Predicted date of their last meaningful game: Sept. 22. That might seem harsh for a team already nearing a plus-100 run differential, but there are two things working against the Rangers with regard to the standings: The Astros, Mariners and Angels might hang around all year, and it is totally conceivable for the AL East to produce three playoff teams this year. I still think the Astros are the best team in the AL West, and a division title might end up being Texas' only path to the postseason. Regardless, the Rangers' last six series will be against the Blue Jays, Guardians, Red Sox, Angels and Mariners, twice. That's a brutal way to end the regular season. It's a stretch of games that will probably make or break their year. -- Gonzalez

 

[Kelleyman]

Unexpected contender tiers: From breakouts we saw coming to ... how the heck are they doing this?

Texas Rangers

How they've surprised us: By having balance offensively. The Rangers are getting production up and down their lineup, even with Corey Seager spending the past month recovering from a hamstring strain. Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia are still producing, and Marcus Semien has bounced back. Meanwhile, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Jung and Leody Taveras are each carrying an adjusted OPS above league average, and Jonah Heim, Texas' 6-foot-4 catcher, is hitting out of his mind.

Why it could continue: The Rangers have been without both Seager and Jacob deGrom all month, and yet they continue to win. Their starting rotation is good, their bullpen is solid and their lineup -- at least so far -- looks deep. The Astros are more talented, the Mariners are deeper and the Angels have more star power, but if their two best players are healthy and right, the Rangers might have just as good a chance as anyone to take the AL West.

Why they could fade: This should be obvious: The Rangers probably won't go far if deGrom is not healthy. They took a major risk by signing him to a five-year, $185 million contract over the offseason. Everybody in the industry knew it. The Rangers knew it, too. But they also knew this: When deGrom is healthy, he is the best, most electrifying pitcher in the majors. After a rough debut, deGrom posted a 1.35 ERA through his next five starts. But then he began nursing elbow inflammation that will keep him out at least another couple of weeks. Not even two months in, the Rangers are getting the full Jacob deGrom Experience.

MVP of their surprising start: Rangers starting pitchers finished the 2022 season with a 4.63 ERA, ranking 25th in the major leagues. It was a clear area of need for a team looking to vault itself into contention, as evidenced by the activity that dominated the ensuing offseason. But with deGrom hurt and Andrew Heaney battling through a 5.25 ERA, it has been Nathan Eovaldi -- perhaps the most unheralded of their starting-pitcher additions -- who has provided a major lift, sporting a 2.70 ERA through his first eight starts.

Predicted date of their last meaningful game: Sept. 22. That might seem harsh for a team already nearing a plus-100 run differential, but there are two things working against the Rangers with regard to the standings: The Astros, Mariners and Angels might hang around all year, and it is totally conceivable for the AL East to produce three playoff teams this year. I still think the Astros are the best team in the AL West, and a division title might end up being Texas' only path to the postseason. Regardless, the Rangers' last six series will be against the Blue Jays, Guardians, Red Sox, Angels and Mariners, twice. That's a brutal way to end the regular season. It's a stretch of games that will probably make or break their year. -- Gonzalez

Aldon Gonzales. Known Halos homer

 

[Duane1952]

Unexpected contender tiers: From breakouts we saw coming to ... how the heck are they doing this?

Texas Rangers

How they've surprised us: By having balance offensively. The Rangers are getting production up and down their lineup, even with Corey Seager spending the past month recovering from a hamstring strain. Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia are still producing, and Marcus Semien has bounced back. Meanwhile, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Jung and Leody Taveras are each carrying an adjusted OPS above league average, and Jonah Heim, Texas' 6-foot-4 catcher, is hitting out of his mind.

Why it could continue: The Rangers have been without both Seager and Jacob deGrom all month, and yet they continue to win. Their starting rotation is good, their bullpen is solid and their lineup -- at least so far -- looks deep. The Astros are more talented, the Mariners are deeper and the Angels have more star power, but if their two best players are healthy and right, the Rangers might have just as good a chance as anyone to take the AL West.

Why they could fade: This should be obvious: The Rangers probably won't go far if deGrom is not healthy. They took a major risk by signing him to a five-year, $185 million contract over the offseason. Everybody in the industry knew it. The Rangers knew it, too. But they also knew this: When deGrom is healthy, he is the best, most electrifying pitcher in the majors. After a rough debut, deGrom posted a 1.35 ERA through his next five starts. But then he began nursing elbow inflammation that will keep him out at least another couple of weeks. Not even two months in, the Rangers are getting the full Jacob deGrom Experience.

MVP of their surprising start: Rangers starting pitchers finished the 2022 season with a 4.63 ERA, ranking 25th in the major leagues. It was a clear area of need for a team looking to vault itself into contention, as evidenced by the activity that dominated the ensuing offseason. But with deGrom hurt and Andrew Heaney battling through a 5.25 ERA, it has been Nathan Eovaldi -- perhaps the most unheralded of their starting-pitcher additions -- who has provided a major lift, sporting a 2.70 ERA through his first eight starts.

Predicted date of their last meaningful game: Sept. 22. That might seem harsh for a team already nearing a plus-100 run differential, but there are two things working against the Rangers with regard to the standings: The Astros, Mariners and Angels might hang around all year, and it is totally conceivable for the AL East to produce three playoff teams this year. I still think the Astros are the best team in the AL West, and a division title might end up being Texas' only path to the postseason. Regardless, the Rangers' last six series will be against the Blue Jays, Guardians, Red Sox, Angels and Mariners, twice. That's a brutal way to end the regular season. It's a stretch of games that will probably make or break their year. -- Gonzalez

Has this guy been watching any Ranger games. The bullpen has not been solid.

 

[Ephland]

Has this guy been watching any Ranger games. The bullpen has not been solid.

It's ESPN. I'm surprised they got as much right as they did, and I'm really surprised to see the Rangers get this much attention from them.

 

[Kelleyman]

Well I guess King should qualify as a long man but we need a guy like Bradford to be an insurance starter. Despite what has been said Kind of doubt he is going to the pen unless. Dunning starting for a while and another guy going down to IL

 

[Ephland]

I do not see an official announcement yet, but Bradford is listed as the starter on the team's website.

 

[saddles]

the Rangers' last six series will be against the Blue Jays, Guardians, Red Sox, Angels and Mariners, twice

There is no reason to look at that stretch and be afraid if you are the Rangers, or a lot of other teams, for that matter. Right now, those teams average less than 2 games over .500 if you count both series against the Mariners.

 

[saddles]

Well I guess King should qualify as a long man but we need a guy like Bradford to be an insurance starter. Despite what has been said Kind of doubt he is going to the pen unless. Dunning starting for a while and another guy going down to IL

They indicated as much, about King, when they brought him up. At this point, Burke, Dunning, Ragans, and King have all been mentioned as long men when first being placed in the bullpen.. Hearn was a year ago as well. They just fail to keep them in that role.

That is another flaw in the team's bullpen construction strategy. They need to start finding a long man or two in the offseason or permanently convert a failed starter to the pen for that. Quit hijacking guys development as a starter in order to fill a need you should have filled otherwise.

 

[saddles]