Texas Rangers Update for Week 1: Fantasy Baseball News and Analysis

Texas Rangers Update for Week 1: Fantasy Baseball News and Analysis

Earlier this week, the Texas Rangers announced that they would no longer be selling beer at Globe Life Park. They had lost their opener (cue rimshot).

The big story with the Rangers so far has been their injuries. Currently, there is only one pitcher in the rotation who was also a starter for the Rangers in 2013 (Martin Perez). Starters Colby Lewis and Yu Darvish are expected to join the rotation soon (more on that in a minute), but Derek Holland may miss at least half the year and Matt Harrison is still trying to overcome back problems. Injuires have affected the position players as well, albeit not as dramatically. Catcher Geovany Soto is out 10-12 weeks. Current starter J.P. Arencebia is not much of a hitter (a career average 11 points above the Mendoza Line) and not much of a fielder either (11 errors with Toronto last year), but he is a serviceable fill-in. Second baseman Jurickson Profar is also out 10-12 weeks, and the current plan is to survive with a combination of Josh Wilson and Donnie Murphy at that position. Profar may not be much of an upgrade if and when he returns, but that's the subject of another column.This week, the Rangers have a three-game series at Tampa Bay followed by three games at Boston.

Texas Rangers Injury Report

Yu Darvish: 15-day DL (neck); scheduled to make his first start Sunday.

Geovany Soto: 60-day DL (knee)

Engel Beltre: 60-day DL (fractured right fibula). Beltre showed some flashes last year, and hopefully this injury won't hinder his development.

Matt Harrison: 15-day DL (back); threw 65 pitches in a rehab start at AA earlier this week and is slated to make at least one more.

Jurickson Profar: Officially listed as day-to-day (shoulder). In the words of the great Vin Scully, aren't we really all day-to-day?

Derek Holland: 60-day DL (knee)

What to Expect

Prince Fielder: No extra-base hits in the opening series and it looks like he may be off to a slow start

Bullpen: After a forgettable opening day the relievers have combined to throw 7.1 scoreless innings.

Shin-Soo Choo: The leadoff hitter found ways to get on base, which is exactly what he's supposed to do.