Tuesday Newsletter time: Texas Rangers will upgrade bullpen in 2022, just from the injured list instead of free agency
Jose Leclerc and Jonathan Hernandez won't be ready by Opening Day after having Tommy John surgery in 2021.
This is hardly a surprise, considering where the Texas Rangers are in their rebuild and Jon Daniels’ apparent preference for using funds elsewhere, but there has been no bullpen talk amid all the speculation of what the Rangers will do this offseason.
The Rangers have said they will sign position players and starting pitchers. Think one of the big shortstops and another big bat, which will complement veteran starters who can eat innings but aren’t necessarily top-of-the-rotation pitchers.
The Rangers will added a couple bullpen pieces, as they always do, but it won’t be anyone who costs much money. Much of the relief load will fall on the same pitchers who finished the season in the bullpen and will head to spring training as front-runners to land jobs on the Opening Day roster.
Joe Barlow, one of the few players to break through in the majors in 2021, will be a front-runner to be the closer. However, that role might only last until Jose Leclerc and Jonathan Hernandez are cleared to return.
The right-handers underwent Tommy John surgery during spring training and are expected to be ready to rejoin the Rangers in late May or early June. They will likely be given a few lower-leverage situations to become acclimated with the big-league atmosphere again before potentially taking on closer duties.
Both throw hard with an often nasty offspeed pitch. Both can log multiple innings. Leclerc is a leader in the bullpen. Hernandez is wise beyond his time in the game.
So, the Rangers will be getting bullpen upgrades in 2022. They’re just going to be added from the injured list instead of via free agency.
Instructs Rangers roughed up
The four-game tour against Texas college teams didn’t start well for the Rangers’ instructional league team. They lost Monday to Texas Tech 14-11 after playing 12 innings.
The Red Raiders led 11-2 after eight innings and 11-4 after nine.
The Rangers were scheduled to hop on some buses afterward and make the drive from Lubbock to Arlington. Next up is a 5 p.m. game Tuesday at Dallas Baptist that is open to the public.
Josh Stephan, the right-hander from South Grand Prairie High School, is scheduled to start for the Rangers. Stephan signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, when the MLB Draft was shortened to only five rounds.
The Rangers are off Wednesday, play Thursday at Baylor and Friday at TCU.
World Series prediction
Game 1 of the World Series is tonight. The Houston Astros will play host to the Atlanta Braves at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros have the edge in experience, with this their third World Series appearance since 2017. They won 95 games in the regular season, averaging an MLB-best 5.33 runs per game, to the Braves’ 88 and 4.90.
The Braves are plucky. They stormed to the NL East title after several acquisitions at the trade deadline. No team had a better record after the deadline than the Braves.
The Astros will be without Lance McCullers Jr., which feels like a big deal. Zack Greinke still isn’t built up to where he needs to be. It would seem the Braves might have an edge in the rotation, and their relievers have worked far fewer innings.
That could decide the series. The Astros have been quick to yank a starter this postseason, leaving the bullpen to pick up a heavy burden. Houston will be playing on three days’ rest, so maybe that’s all their relievers need to get through this series.
But it seems like a lot to ask.
Give me the Braves in six games.
Doggy video!
Just who the hell does this cat think it is? Luna delivers a humbling moment. Enjoy. See you Tuesday.
