The latest PECOTA rankings are out. After the Yankees lost their ace Gerrit Cole to season-ending surgery, the Rangers are now projected to win the most games in the American League at 90.5 victories. 

Yesterday’s announcement that Tyler Mahle was scratched from his Cactus League start isn’t expected to alter the PECOTA rankings. It’s really no surprise. Mahle came to the Rangers injured. They signed him to a two-year deal before last season, knowing he would be rehabbing from earlier Tommy John surgery for much of the first year. 

He came back in August, made three starts, then was shut down again because of a sore shoulder. Now, it’s forearm stiffness. That can’t be good.

But Mahle isn’t Gerrit Cole. The Rangers can recover if they lose a guy with a career ERA of 4.32 and a career ERA+ of 108, meaning he is slightly above average. 

So, the good news is, a computer simulator somewhere off in the cyberworld thinks the Rangers are the best team in the American League. And the bad news is, there’s a good chance they launch into their season without Tyler Mahle in the rotation. Chances are, they will still have the best team even without him. 

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THE FIRST-EVER BROADCAST ON THE NEW RANGERS SPORTS NETWORK IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.

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TODAY’S CACTUS LEAGUE GAME:

Cincinnati vs. Texas, 3:05

TV: CW33, Victory+ Radio: MLB Audio