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Milwaukee Brewers' Rymer Liriano Hit In Face With Pitch

Milwaukee Brewers' Rymer Liriano Hit In Face With Pitch

MLB News and Headlines - 3/20/16

MLB News and Headlines - 3/20/16

President Obama Lands In Cuba For Historic Visit

President Obama Lands In Cuba For Historic Visit

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MLB • 1 year ago

Early Spring Training Prediction of Texas Rangers’ 2015 Opening Day Lineup

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Early Spring Training Prediction of Texas Rangers' 2015 Opening Day Lineup

Texas Rangers v Houston Astros — Surprisingly, the Texas Rangers were downright awful last season. They were riddled with injuries and their offense is going to have to step up this season after the loss of ace Yu Darvish for the season. Here are the guys who are going to have to step up in the lineup in order for Texas to compete.

Surprisingly, the Texas Rangers were downright awful last season. They were riddled with injuries and their offense is going to have to step up this season after the loss of ace Yu Darvish for the season. Here are the guys who are going to have to step up in the lineup in order for Texas to compete.

1. CF Leonys Martin

Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

1. CF Leonys Martin

Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — Martin is really developing into a nice hitter at the major league level. He's still not a game-changer at the plate, but he gets on base consistently and can run well. Those qualities obviously make him a pretty solid leadoff man.

Martin is really developing into a nice hitter at the major league level. He's still not a game-changer at the plate, but he gets on base consistently and can run well. Those qualities obviously make him a pretty solid leadoff man.

2. SS Elvis Andrus

Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers

2. SS Elvis Andrus

Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers — After a down year in 2014, there were rumors the Rangers were shopping their shortstop. For now, Andrus is still in a Ranger uniform, and he will look to bounce back from a rough season a year ago. He has all the talent to be able to do that, so he will try to prove himself again at the top of the order.

After a down year in 2014, there were rumors the Rangers were shopping their shortstop. For now, Andrus is still in a Ranger uniform, and he will look to bounce back from a rough season a year ago. He has all the talent to be able to do that, so he will try to prove himself again at the top of the order.

3. 3B Adrian Beltre

Detroit Tigers v Texas Rangers

3. 3B Adrian Beltre

Detroit Tigers v Texas Rangers — Overall, Beltre is the best hitter on this team which is why he's slotted in the No. 3 spot in the order. Even though he's getting up there in age, he continues to produce at a high level. As long as he stays healthy, he's primed for another big season for the Rangers.

Overall, Beltre is the best hitter on this team which is why he's slotted in the No. 3 spot in the order. Even though he's getting up there in age, he continues to produce at a high level. As long as he stays healthy, he's primed for another big season for the Rangers.

4. DH Prince Fielder

Kansas City Royals v Texas Rangers

4. DH Prince Fielder

Kansas City Royals v Texas Rangers — After missing most of his first season with the Rangers, Prince Fielder finally appears ready to get back to form. How he plays may determine just how much Texas competes this season, because he's the biggest question mark on the roster. If he gets back to his old ways, he's going to launch 30-plus home runs and keep the Rangers competitive.

After missing most of his first season with the Rangers, Prince Fielder finally appears ready to get back to form. How he plays may determine just how much Texas competes this season, because he's the biggest question mark on the roster. If he gets back to his old ways, he's going to launch 30-plus home runs and keep the Rangers competitive.

5. 1B Mitch Moreland

Texas Rangers v Detroit Tigers

5. 1B Mitch Moreland

Texas Rangers v Detroit Tigers — Moreland's big league career has progressed nicely to this point as he's seemingly improved every year. Hitting in the middle of the order in 2015, he will have to take yet another step in that progression. It's unlikely he will ever develop into a superstar at the plate, but he can certainly be well above average in the near future.

Moreland's big league career has progressed nicely to this point as he's seemingly improved every year. Hitting in the middle of the order in 2015, he will have to take yet another step in that progression. It's unlikely he will ever develop into a superstar at the plate, but he can certainly be well above average in the near future.

6. RF Jake Smolinski

Texas Rangers v Oakland Athletics

6. RF Jake Smolinski

Texas Rangers v Oakland Athletics — Not many people have heard of Smolinski, but he's a nice young piece the Rangers have. He's still coming into his own, but he got some good experience last season. Texas needs to start phasing in more players like Smolinski as they prepare to move out their veterans in favor of younger replacements.

Not many people have heard of Smolinski, but he's a nice young piece the Rangers have. He's still coming into his own, but he got some good experience last season. Texas needs to start phasing in more players like Smolinski as they prepare to move out their veterans in favor of younger replacements.

7. LF Shin-Soo Choo

Texas Rangers v Miami Marlins

7. LF Shin-Soo Choo

Texas Rangers v Miami Marlins — Shin-Soo Choo had a horrible year in 2014, and now he has to prove he's worth the huge contract the Rangers gave him a year ago. They're paying him to see pitches and get on base, so he needs to do that in 2015 for the Rangers to have any hope at a playoff spot.

Shin-Soo Choo had a horrible year in 2014, and now he has to prove he's worth the huge contract the Rangers gave him a year ago. They're paying him to see pitches and get on base, so he needs to do that in 2015 for the Rangers to have any hope at a playoff spot.

8. C Robinson Chirinos

Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

8. C Robinson Chirinos

Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — Chirinos is a catcher the Rangers think can develop into a very good backstop eventually, but right now he's not producing at a high level. If Texas hopes to compete in 2015, they're going to need more production from the position, whether it be from Chirinos or elsewhere.

Chirinos is a catcher the Rangers think can develop into a very good backstop eventually, but right now he's not producing at a high level. If Texas hopes to compete in 2015, they're going to need more production from the position, whether it be from Chirinos or elsewhere.

9. 2B Rougned Odor

Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

9. 2B Rougned Odor

Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — Odor is one of the Rangers' top prospects, and they're going to try and phase him into the offense slowly. They want him to have little pressure at the start, and by hitting out of the nine spot in the order, he will see plenty of fastballs. If he gets going while seeing those fastballs, the Rangers could progressively move him up in the order.

Odor is one of the Rangers' top prospects, and they're going to try and phase him into the offense slowly. They want him to have little pressure at the start, and by hitting out of the nine spot in the order, he will see plenty of fastballs. If he gets going while seeing those fastballs, the Rangers could progressively move him up in the order.

LHP Derek Holland

Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers

LHP Derek Holland

Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers — Holland is far from an ace, but he's the default ace for the Rangers now that Yu Darvish appears lost for the season with Tommy John surgery. At the top, Holland and other starters will have to majorly step up their games in order to make up for the loss of Darvish.

Holland is far from an ace, but he's the default ace for the Rangers now that Yu Darvish appears lost for the season with Tommy John surgery. At the top, Holland and other starters will have to majorly step up their games in order to make up for the loss of Darvish.

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MLB• 4 days ago

Predicting The Rangers' 2016 Opening Day Lineup

Here is a spring training prediction of how the Texas Rangers' 2016 opening day lineup may look.

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MLB• 3 weeks ago

Predicting Texas Rangers' 2016 Opening Day Rotation

Here is a prediction of how the Texas Rangers' starting rotation might look until Yu Darvish returns.

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MLB• 3 weeks ago

Predicting The Rangers' 2016 Record Going Into Spring Training

Here is an early spring training prediction of how the Texas Rangers will fare during the 2016 MLB season.

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MLB• 4 weeks ago

Rangers Fan Wins Free Season Tickets By Blasting Home Run

Perhaps the Texas Rangers should consider signing this fan.

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MLB• 2 months ago

5 Rangers Who Need To Stay Healthy In 2016

Here are five Texas Rangers who must stay healthy during the 2016 MLB season.

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MLB• 2 months ago

Hamels Will Be Key To Rangers' Success In 2016

With Yu Darvish not expected to be ready for the start of the season, Cole Hamels is going to be key to the Texas Rangers' success in 2016.

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MLB• 3 months ago

Texas Rangers Gauging Interest in Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder is coming off a nice comeback season in 2015, but the Texas Rangers may be gauging trade interest in him at the Winter Meetings.

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MLB• 4 months ago

Ranking The Rangers' Top Prospects For 2016

Here are the Texas Rangers' top five prospects heading into next season.

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MLB• 5 months ago

Rangers Have Quite The Dilemma With Joey Gallo

Joey Gallo, while coming in hot this season, may not have gotten the necessary development to make a more permanent move to the majors.

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MLB• 5 months ago

Rangers Fans Should Not Hang Their Heads

The Texas Rangers beat all odds this year by making it to the postseason, and with the late-season changes, along with the management, they have a bright future to look forward to.

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