Okay. So we know what DOESN'T work in a Texas Rangers rotation. Now that they've had time to rebuild, and scrapped Kluber, Lynn and Minor from the schematics, along with demoting Jordan Lyles back to the bullpen, let's see what the Rangers starting 5 looks like this year:
-Kyle Gibson. It's looking like Gibson will be the Opening Day starter, which is a far cry from Lynn last year and Minor the year before. Not that Gibson's bad, as he actually got things together late in the 2020 season. But they're asking a lot of the veteran hurler if they're thinking he's gonna lead the rotation cleanly. I dunno, I could be very wrong, but Gibson has come off as very streaky to me, and can be golden one season and around 5 ERA the next. I hope he establishes a degree of consistency in Arlington, but that may end up being his ticket out of Arlington...
-Kohei Arihara. This was the big gamble the Rangers took this year, and I'm thinking it'll pay off. Arihara, unlike Yu Darvish, has always been a mid-tier starter, and aside from his 15-8, 160-K 2019, has never been the huge crowdpleaser for the Fighters, and has always been flanked by a more impressive arm, be it homegrown or gaijin [DREW VERHAAGEN LAST YEAR? I was wondering what had happened to that guy]. But, Arihara has been very consistent, and is pretty similar to Gibson in Minnesota- strong 2nd or 3rd man in the rotation, delivers gems without being too flashy. And I think that Arihara's gonna have a decent rookie year. I do think that eventually he's gonna need to acclimate to US pitching [read: get Tommy John surgery], but for now he'll be a nice asset.
-Mike Foltynewicz. Folks...the Rangers seem to really be confident about Folty's abilities. He floundered the last two seasons, lost his control and his goodwill, and was let loose before the Braves became playoff threats. So far in spring starts, Folty hasn't allowed any runs, and has been relatively sharp, but this has been in short form. We don't know if Folty's recent woes will pop right back up when he gets to Globe Life. But if the Rangers are right, and Folty is back to his 2018 self...they just pulled off a steal. He might rise up the rotation in no time if he truly is back.
-Kolby Allard. Another former Atlanta Brave coming off a weak season. Allard went 0-6 in 11 games last year, with a 7.75 ERA, a crushing blow to a guy many Rangers fans thought would be the next ace. He very well still could be, and I'm thinking 2021 will be an improvement for him. It's just a matter of how quickly it takes him to get really comfortable, and whether or not the Rangers lose their patience and throw Kyle Cody, someone who took his rotation spot already last year, into the mix.
-Dane Dunning. The consolation prize for trading Lance Lynn, Dunning actually came off really well in Chicago last year, with a 3.97 ERA in 7 starts. He was delivering a lot of the mojo that Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech were supposed to get right to, which is why it doesn't surprise me that Dunning got dealt once Kopech AND Cease were reportedly thriving. I do think Dunning could be a sleeper favorite for this rotation, and could be a solid late-rotation flamethrower. His stock may rise as the bigger guns either get traded or sink.
So while this isn't as starry as last year's, this rotation might actually be a safer bet if all 5 of these guys deliver. However, as this team is also relying on a still-shaky lineup, it may be all for naught anyway.
Coming Tomorrow- Did Gabe Kapler know what he was doing when he signed this guy, or did he do it just to keep everybody else from getting him?
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