The Texas Rangers starting pitching rotation for 2020 seemed to improve with the acquisitions of Cory Kluber from the Cleveland Indians and Jordan Lyles from the Milwaukee Brewers on the weekend. Kluber and Lyles now join Kyle Gibson, who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins on December 6.
Kluber was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Rangers for center fielder Delino DeShields Jr. and relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase. Lyles signed a two-year contract worth $16 million from the Milwaukee Brewers.
It was only a week ago Gibson was slated into third in the Rangers rotation, behind Mike Minor and Lance Lynn. Now, you can put Kluber as the new Rangers ace, followed by Minor, Lynn, Gibson and then Lyles.
Kluber will look to bounce back this season after suffering two injuries. At the beginning of the year, Kluber broke his arm after being hit by a line drive against the Miami Marlins, and then suffered an abdomen injury in August. At the end of the year, the two-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time all-star only had a record of two wins and three losses with an earned run average of 5.80.
Lyles shared the 2019 Major League Baseball regular season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brewers. After struggling with the Pirates (5-7, 5.36 ERA), Lyles was excellent with the Brewers as he was 7-1 with an earned run average of 2.45. He ended the year at 12-8 with an earned run average of 4.15.
The Rangers become Kluber’s second Major League Baseball team as he spent nine seasons with the Indians. Lyles meanwhile has played for five MLB teams. In addition to the Brewers and Pirates, he has played with the Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres.
DeShields has played five seasons with the Rangers. In 2019, he batted .249 with four home runs and 32 runs batted in. DeShields is known for his speed as he had 24 stolen bases in 2019 and 106 career stolen bases.
Clase was a rookie with the Rangers in 2019. In 21 games, he had a record of two wins and three losses, but a very formidable earned run average of 2.31.
