How Texas Rangers Have Best Record in American League Despite Depleted Rotation

Three of the five starting pitchers the Texas Rangers hoped would form a robust rotation in 2013 are shelved on the disabled list. This setback would destroy many teams' chances of remaining competitive 25 percent of the way through the season. 

Texas, however, has defied logic in its ability to overcome a depleted rotation that's currently without Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis and Alexi Ogando.

Despite the pitching injuries (which also include Neftali Feliz and Joakim Soria), the Rangers are sporting an American League-best 30-17 record. Texas now has a healthy 5.5-game lead in the American League West. 

So what gives and how are they doing it? Consider the following factors: 

1. Yu Darvish is pitching like a Cy Young winner. 

Darvish's dominance has softened the blow from when the Rangers' trio of pitchers landed on the DL. The 26-year-old Darvish, in his second season in the U.S., is 7-2 with a 2.84 earned-run average, and leads MLB in strikeouts with 86. He also leads MLB in K's per nine innings (K/9) with a ridiculous 12.29 average.

The biggest difference in Darvish's second year in the majors is his ability to command his repertoire of pitches. In his first nine starts last season, he issued 32 free passes. He only had 19 walks in his first nine games this year. Additionally, batters are hitting just .179 against Darvish this season, which is the second-lowest in the AL, only behind Matt Moore's .175 with Tampa Bay. 

Darvish looks like the ace the Rangers signed for six years and $111 million (including posting fee). He's looking to become the first Rangers pitcher to ever win the Cy Young. 

2. Derek Holland is having a resurgent season. 

This season was projected in Rangers fan circles as the Year of the Holland. No more goofy Harry Caray impersonations. Holland struggled Sunday night against Detroit, but who's been able to contain Miguel Cabrera this year? In Holland's quest to become a more focused pitcher, the 26-year-old lefty has posted a 3-2 record and a 3.30 ERA, to go along with a solid 54/14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Darvish-Holland 1-2 punch has been an essential part of the Rangers withstanding injuries to their rotation. 

3. Lance Berkman has stayed healthy. 

Sure, the Big Puma is part of the AARP club in baseball years, but the big fella can still produce at a very high level. His right knee (surgery in May and September of 2012) has held up, and he's getting on base at a .408 clip, good for ninth in MLB. 

The 37-year-old is making up for the loss of Josh Hamilton in the third spot in the batting order. Berkman's presence and plate discipline make the offense flow. It also provides a string of RBI opportunities for the middle of the order. Nelson Cruz (team-leading 33 RBI's) has benefitted most. 

4. Rookies have stepped up. 

A pair of 24-year-old rookies have stepped up in Lewis and Harrison's absence. The effectiveness of Justin Grimm (3-3, 4.02 ERA) and Nick Tepesch (3-4, 3.98 ERA) is a testament to the emphasis Rangers general manager Jon Daniels places on the farm system. 

There's a stark contrast between the way the Rangers and their chief rival Angels are built. Daniels values the farm system, which allows him to maintain financial flexibility with the big club. He doesn't make snap decisions as a form of retaliation when rival teams make big splashes. Daniels makes smart decisions and rarely rewards players with longer-term deals unless they're in their mid-to-upper 20s. This approach places an emphasis on winning now and in the future. General manager Jerry Dipoto, on the other hand, pushed all the Angels' chips to the center of the pot, going all-in to win immediately, even if it means sacrificing mega millions (10 years, $254 million to Albert Pujols; five years, $125 million to Josh Hamilton) and prospects (Baseball America ranked the Angels farm system dead last in the majors this year). The Angels missed the playoffs last season in Year 1 of Pujols and are 17-27 this year. 

5. Joe Nathan has consistently shut the door. 

Nathan has converted all 14 of his save chances this season. If the Rangers continue to build off their hot start, the 38-year-old will have to remain the stopper at the back of the bullpen. 

Daniels has constructed the roster with a disaster plan - in the form of depth in the minor leagues - firmly in place. Three starting pitchers on the shelf have not prohibited the Rangers from sprinting out to the best record in the AL a fourth of the way through the season. It's going to be a heck of a roster when the injured starters make their way back onto the field.