Who Will be the Texas Rangers’ Fifth Starter?

Texas Rangers’ Mailbag

"“Who do you see as the starting pitchers in the rotation, and specifically, who do think will be the fifth starter?” – Mike"

I think we can all agree who the top three pitchers in the rotation are: Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, and Yovani Gallardo. Barring injury I have Colby Lewis as the #4 pitcher and then an open competition for the final spot. None of this should sound surprising, right?

The Rangers acquired lefty Ross Detwiler from the Nationals early in the offseason. The idea was to let him compete for the 4^th or 5^th spot (since Lewis was unsigned at the time). With Lewis now re-signed, Colby likely claims the #4 spot, pushing Det down to #5. A couple weeks ago I would have said that’s what the starting rotation would look like in 2015, but that’s all changed now…

The Texas Rangers traded reliever Robbie Ross to Boston, getting former top prospect Anthony Ranaudo in return. Ranaudo is known to be a player the Rangers have loved for some time. They drafted him out of high school in 2007, but he decided to go to LSU instead. His seasoning at LSU proved successful as he became a first round pick.

The 6’7” pitcher pitched 39 1/3 innings for the Red Sox last season earning a 4.81 ERA. The hard-throwing righty has a strong fastball but a sad changeup. He will need to work on his off-speed pitching if he hopes to survive as a starter, but all indications are he is willing, and able, to commit to improving his arsenal.

"“My job is to try to go out there and compete and try to throw strikes and ultimately try and help the team win at whatever level that’s at,” said Ranaudo. “Whether I’m at the Triple A level or major league level, I’m going to go out there and compete.”"

There is a very good chance he will end up as the fifth starter at the major league level. The biggest reason being the trading away of Robbie Ross. The Rangers have a need for left-handed pitching in the bullpen and trading away the lefty Ross, just made the situation even thinner.

"“Robbie wasn’t going to be the guy we brought in to get out the tough lefties in a lineup,” Rangers GM Jon Daniels said."

So who is?

Probably Ross Detwiler. Det has been effective against both righties and lefties and has bullpen experience. He prefers to be a starter but team need could very well trump his desires.

"“We’ll do what’s ultimately in the best interest of the team, Daniels said. “If that involves one of those guys going to the bullpen…”"

Of the pitchers competing for the final starting spot in the rotation, only Det pitches facing 1^st base. Nick Martinez, Nick Tepesch, and Ranaudo are all righties. At this point, I think Ranaudo improves his changeup and claims that last spot in the rotation while Detwiler drops to the bullpen.