It’s only six games into the season, but the Texas Rangers look like repeaters for at least the American League pennant. Part of the reason is that they are 6-0 over those games. The other reason is who they won the games against.
The Rangers started with a sweep of the Boston Red Sox, early favorites to win the American League East. A strong offense just blew apart the Red Sox rotation, with Ranger scores of 12, nine and five runs in three games.
Next, the Rangers took three of three from the Seattle Mariners, probably the most robust challenger in the Rangers’ division (American League West). One of those games was against “King” Felix Hernandez, last year’s Cy Young winner.
The Mariners arguably have better pitching than the Rangers. But the Texans have MUCH better hitters.
Meanwhile, no one team is showing any particular strength in the American League Central, where a seesaw battle is raging for division standings.
The Rangers are the first team in eight years to come out of the starting gate 6-0. They’re also on the verge of reaching team milestones. Depending on what happens in the next series, this could be the first Rangers team since the 1990s with a 7-0 start and/or the first team since then to win its first three series.
The Rangers have started the season with a batting average in the .280s. That’s at the high end of what they have produced in the past and may come down into the .270s, which would still be a Ranger-like hitting performance.
What has distinguished this year’s Rangers from their predecessors is starting pitching. Old standbys such as C.J. Wilson, Derek Holland and Colby Lewis have proven their reliability.
But the real surprises have come from former relievers Alexi Ogando and Matt Harrison, who have given up all of one run between them in 13 innings.
The Rangers may have lost Cliff Lee last year, but the arrival of these two appears to have more than made up for it.
The next series is a further test. There will be a duel of promising young starters, Matt Harrison vs. Jake Arrieta. If only the Texans could take three of three from the other league leader, the rejuvenated Baltimore Orioles, then the Rangers would really be favorites to win the pennant.
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