This is year number '3' of Manager Jeff Bannister running the Ship for the Rangers! He has 2 Division Crowns and a 'Manager of the Year' under his belt. This season will be a harder path to a third straight Division Crown. The Rangers might not even be the best Baseball team in the Texas because of the up and coming Houston Astros! Texas is lead again by the 1-2 punch of Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels. Texas needs pitcher Yu Darvish to pick up where he left off in 2016. Darvish had 17starts, with 11 of them being quality starts and averaged over 11 strike outs per 9 innings pitched. Cole Hamels was 15-5 with an 3.32 era, needs to repeat of his 2016 form. Texas returns the strength of their pitching the middle relievers, Tony Barnette, Matt Bush, Jeremy Jeffress, Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman along with Closer Sam Dyson and his 30 saves and 2.43 era. The Rangers return 7 of their 9 starters on offense. They lost center fielder Ian Desmond and his .285ba, 22hr, 86rbi. where they lost his offense the Rangers will gain in defense with Carlos Gomez patrolling Center field. Texas signed first baseman [and Fan Favorite] Mike Napoli to replace 1B Mitch Moreland. The Rangers will have their hand fulls to win the AL West, however they should win 86 games or more! OVER 85.5
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