Predictions for the Opening Day Lineup

-
Catcher - Kyle Higashioka / Danny Jansen 

With Jonah Heim's departure to Atlanta, catching duties are expected to be split between Kyle Higashioka and free agent acquisition Danny Jansen. Higashioka has hit double digit home runs in each of the past five seasons and owns a 102 OPS+ since the start of 2024, while Jansen has hit 10 or more homers in four of the past five years and owns a career OBP 91 points higher than his batting average. If the Rangers reach the playoffs, both catchers have successful postseason experience - Higashioka in the form of four homers and a career .511 slugging percentage, and Jansen with a 1.308 OPS. 

First Base - Jake Burger 

While Burger struggled with injuries and a slump that resulted in his temporary demotion, he still finished with 16 homers and hopes to return to his 2023-24 ways when he clubbed 63 homers. Heading into his age-30 season and having already adjusted to Globe Life's unique dimensions, there is every reason to believe that Burger will be back with a vengeance. 

Second Base - Josh Smith 

A true defensive jack-of-all-trades, Smith is expected to begin the season as the Rangers' primary second baseman after the Semien-Nimmo trade. A 2024 Silver Slugger when he hit 30 doubles and 13 home runs, Smith should provide on-base skills, above average baserunning, and strong defense at a key position. 

Third Base - Josh Jung 

Assuming he can maintain his health, Jung has proven to have star potential, as he started the all-star game as a rookie in 2023. He hit 14 homers in limited action last year and currently has a 1.125 OPS in spring training, making him a productive option if he can stay in the lineup. 

Shortstop - Corey Seager 

One of the premier shortstops in the game, Seager is a mainstay in the middle of the Rangers' lineup. While his 2025 season was cut short by an appendectomy, he still hit 21 homers and enjoyed the best defensive season of his career. A five-time all-star with two top-three MVP finishes, Seager has the potential to power the Rangers back into the postseason. 

Leftfield - Wyatt Langford 

Originally hyped as one of the game's biggest prospects, Langford has been a source of consistency for the Rangers, combining power, speed, on-base skills, and strong outfield defense. Currently batting .483 with four homers and 12 RBI's in spring training, Langford is ready for the best season of his career. 

Centerfield - Evan Carter 

A breakout sensation late in 2023, Evan Carter has struggled with back problems in each of the past two seasons. The dynamic outfielder is similar to Langford in that he combines defense, on-base skills, and blistering speed to change games. If he can stay on the field, he should improve steadily in 2026, as manager Skip Schumacher plans to start him against lefthanded pitchers, against whom he has historically struggled. 

Rightfield - Brandon Nimmo 

Acquired in the Marcus Semien trade, Brandon Nimmo has consistently found his way on base for ten seasons, posting a .364 career OBP. He has also increased his power in recent years, establishing career highs in homers (25) and RBI's (92) in 2025. A solid player with all-star potential, Nimmo should be a fixture at the top of the Rangers lineup. 

Designated Hitter - Joc Pederson / Andrew McCutchen 

Despite a rough first season in Arlington, Joc Pederson is expected to serve as the Rangers' primary DH again in 2026, where he hopes to regain his previous form which led to six 20-homer seasons, including 36 in 2019. Against lefties, former MVP Andrew McCutchen is making a strong case to start, currently slashing .583 / .706 / .833 this spring. 

Starting Rotation - Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, MacKenzie Gore, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker 

Skip Schumacher has announced that Eovaldi will get the ball on Opening Day, one of two aces on the team with Jacob deGrom. Gore is also expected to be a difference-maker this season, as he's struck out 10.1 batters per nine innings since 2024 and earned his first all-star selection last year. Likely to take the fourth spot is Jack Leiter, the former phenom who posted a 3.86 ERA in 2025, and Rocker seems likely to begin the season in the fifth spot. Despite a 5.11 ERA in spring training, Rocker had an impressive final start, striking out six and only allowing one run in four innings against the Royals. The next day, his main competitor Jacob Latz experienced an alarming velocity dip in his final spring start, with his fastball averaging between 94 and 96 miles per hour in his first two innings before dropping to the 90-92 range. Due to this fatigue and his poor performance (seven earned runs), he will likely begin the season in the bullpen, where he made 25 of his 33 appearances in 2025. 

Predicted Batting Order: 
1. Brandon Nimmo 
2. Wyatt Langford 
3. Corey Seager 
4. Jake Burger 
5. Josh Jung 
6. Josh Smith 
7. Kyle Higashioka 
8. Andrew McCutchen 
9. Evan Carter 
SP: Nathan Eovaldi (vs. LHP Cristopher Sanchez) 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Three Hall of Famers You Forgot Played for the Rangers

-
Every MLB team has had a Hall of Famer grace its roster, and these all-time great players usually make the largest impact. The Rangers have had their share of Hall of Fame talent throughout the years, from Nolan Ryan to Pudge Rodriguez to Adrian Beltre, but several others made only brief stops with the club. Here are three Hall of Famers you forgot played for the Rangers.  Rich "Goose" Gossage   Rich "Goose" Gossage pitched in the big leagues from 1972 through 1994, becoming the second pitcher to earn 300 saves in 1988. A nine time all-star and three time league leader in saves, Gossage made a stop in Texas in 1991, posting a 3.57 ERA in 44 appearances as a setup man behind closer Jeff Russell.  Bert Blyleven   Bert Blyleven, a 287-game winner between 1970 and 1992, was best known for his work in Minnesota and Cleveland, but he made an impact on the Rangers during his brief tenure with the club. He made a total of 54 starts with Texas in 1976 and 1977, completing 29...
Read more

Texas Rangers' Hopes for the Second Half

-
As the all-star break comes to a close, the Texas Rangers have a 48-49 won-loss record, putting them 3.5 games out of a wildcard spot. While this is certainly a disappointment, they haven't been a bad  team this year, and certainly have some time to turn their season around. However, in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, a few things need to go right for Texas.  The Lineup Needs To Return To Form   It is no secret that the Rangers' offense has been vastly underperforming this season, but let us not forget that it's largely the same lineup that led the team to the World Championship only two years ago, with a couple key additions. If Josh Jung finds his footing in AAA in time for a call-up and Wyatt Langford lives up to his true ability, Texas could once again sport one of the deadliest lineups in the game. With a hot start to the second half, they could potentially hang onto Adolis Garcia and start building at the deadline.  The Team Needs To Get Healthy  ...
Read more

OLD POST: What to Expect from Wyatt Langford in 2025

-
After being drafted in the first round (fourth overall) in 2023 and tearing through the minor leagues, expectations for Langford’s rookie season were through the roof. He made the Rangers’ Opening Day Roster in 2024, but didn’t live up to the hype surrounding his name. While Langford’s 2024 season was widely seen as a disappointment, I see a bright future for the young slugger.  Most rookies start out their careers slowly as they try to acclimate to the big leagues, and Langford was no exception. He played 27 games before he hit his first major league home run (an inside-the-parker) and had a .588 OPS before hitting the IL with a hamstring injury in late May. After his return, the 22-year old outfielder turned on the jets, batting .309 in June with 22 runs batted in. He was the AL Player of the Month in September/October, slashing .300/.386/.610 with eight home runs and 20 RBI’s in 26 games. Overall, Langford finished at .253/.325/.415 with 16 homers and 74 RBI’s, a more than respe...
Read more