Dan Szymborski’s ZiPS projections are a good measure of what to expect from players in the upcoming baseball season. We'll take a look at the Rangers' projections on a position-by-position basis. Szymborski can be found on Twitter at @DSzymborski.
Today we'll look at the projections for the Rangers' seventh-inning role, which at this point, seems to be a logical fit for left-hander Robbie Ross.
Ross: 65 1/3 innings, 3.72 ERA, 6.34 K/9 IP, 46 strikeouts, 25 walks, 5 home runs allowed
There wasn't a more pleasant surprise for the Texas Rangers, with the possible exception of Joe Nathan, than Ross. The lefty threw 65 innings with a 2.22 ERA and a perfect 6-0 record while showing an equal ability to get both left-handed and right-handed batters out. So he doesn't really fit the bill as a mere "lefty specialist" brought in just to get left-handers out. Ross can pitch against anyone, which makes him a prime candidate for an important role that Alexi Ogando thrived in last season.
