No. 10 Dodgers | No. 8 Red Sox | Nos. 10-1
Texas Rangers
Last Season: 88-74
Projected record: 82-80 (tied for second in AL WEST)
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The Rangers became just the second American League team, along with the 2008 Rays, to make the playoffs after having the league's worst record the previous season. Their 80-58 record after May 4 was the second best mark in the AL behind the Blue Jays. They can look forward to a full year from left-hander Cole Hamels and plan on welcoming back right-hander Yu Darvish from Tommy John surgery by early June. They enjoyed surprising seasons from, among others, catcher Robinson Chirinos and outfielder Delino DeShields, a Rule 5 draftee. The Rangers have a budding star in 22-year-old Rougned Odor, who was demoted after a slow start before raking at a .292/.334/.527 clip following a June call-up.
Rougned Odor is getting plenty of attention heading into 2016, and it's well deserved as he projects to be one of MLB's best second basemen over the course of his career. -- ESPN.com (graphic from Dan Szymborski)
The bullpen was once a major issue, but is now a major strength behind closer Shawn Tolleson (35 saves), midseason additions Jake Diekman and Sam Dyson and free-agent signee Tom Wilhelmsen. High-priced hitters Prince Fielder (98 RBI) and Shin-Soo Choo (.838 OPS) both enjoyed bounce-backs from injury-plagued seasons and similar production is expected in 2016. Shortstop Elvis Andrus hopefully has moved on from that disastrous seventh inning in a Game 5 American League Division Series loss in Toronto in which he was charged with two of three Texas errors.
Derek Holland can be a solid No. 3 starter if he stays healthy, but the back end of the rotation -- Colby Lewis and Martin Perez -- is not nearly as imposing. Lewis won 17 games, primarily because his 6.20 average run support was the second most in the majors. The team is counting on big years from a host of guys north of 30 years old, including Lewis (36), Adrian Beltre (36), Fielder (31) and Choo (33), which is quite risky. Also, don't underestimate the departure of well-respected pitching coach Mike Maddux, who left for Washington.
No. 8 Red Sox | No. 10 Dodgers | Nos. 10-1
