2015 Texas Rangers season

The 2015 Texas Rangers season was the Rangers' 55th season of the franchise and the 44th since the team relocated to Arlington, Texas. After a disastrous 2014 season in which the Rangers finished last in the entire American League and third worst in all of Major League Baseball (MLB), and despite starting the season with an 8–16 record and being under .500 as late as August 13, the Rangers would clinch the American League West title on the final day of the season. It was the team's sixth division title and seventh postseason appearance in franchise history. They lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in five games in the ALDS, even after taking a 2-1 lead. First year manager Jeff Banister was named the AL Manager of the Year.

Offseason
October 30: Colby Lewis, Neal Cotts and Scott Baker become free agents.
 * Lewis re-signed with the Rangers.
 * Cotts signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.
 * Baker signed with the New York Yankees.

October 31: Sent 3 players to the minors.

November 20: Promoted 4 players from the minors, released 2, signed 3 to a minor league contract (2 with an invite to spring training), and sent Daniel Robertson to the Los Angeles Angels for an unnamed player.

November 24: Released Jim Adduci and signed Ed Lucas to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

December 2: Adam Rosales, Michael Kirkman, and Alexi Ogando become free agents.
 * Rosales and Kirkman resigned with the Rangers.
 * Ogando signed with the Boston Red Sox.

December 8: Claimed Scott Barnes off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
 * He would be sent to the minors and claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.

December 11: Signed 3 players to a minor league contract and invited them to Spring training, while drafting Delino DeShields.

December 12: Received Ross Detwiler from the Washington Nationals for Chris Bostick and Abel De Los Santos.

December 14: Signed J. T. Wise to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

December 15: Signed Francisco Mendoza to a minor league contract.

December 16: Signed Kyuji Fujikawa. Also signed 3 players to a minor league contract with 2 receiving an invite to spring training.

December 18: Signed Mike McDade to a minor league contract.

Week of January 5: Signed Adam Rosales and gave 2 players a minor league contract (1 with an invite to spring training).

Week of January 12: Signed 7 players to a minor league contract and invited 1 of them to spring training.

Week of January 19: Received Yovani Gallardo and cash from the Milwaukee Brewers for Corey Knebel, Luis Sardinas, and Marcos Diplan and received Gonzalez Germen from the Yankees for cash. Signed Juan Perez and Ross Ohlendorf to a minor league contract and invited 6 others to spring training.
 * Germen would be claimed by the Chicago Cubs off waivers.
 * Ohlendorf received an invite to spring training.

January 27: Received Anthony Ranaudo from the Boston Red Sox for Robbie Ross, Jr.

January 28: Signed 2 players to a minor league contract.

February 3: Invited Martire Garcia to spring training.

February 4: Signed Ryan Ludwick to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

February 6: Signed Nate Schierholtz to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Season summary
The Rangers would start the season as poorly as their 2014 season ended, reaching a season low eight games under .500 (8-16) on May 3. The lone bright spot was the resurgence of Prince Fielder from season-ending surgery the prior year. At the All-Star break, the Rangers improved slightly, but were still under .500 (42-46).

The second half of the season would see the team begin a resurgence, led in part by the acquisition of Cole Hamels, the emergence of Shawn Tolleson as the team's closer, the returns of Martin Perez and Derek Holland from the disabled list, and improved play by Shin-Soo Choo and Adrián Beltré. However, as late as August 3, the Rangers were still below .500. The improved play continued, and on September 15 (during a four-game home series against their in-state and division rivals the Houston Astros), the Rangers would defeat the Astros 6-5, taking the division lead in the process and ultimately sweeping the series. The Rangers would not relinquish the division lead from that point forward, though they would not clinch the division until the last day of the season when they defeated the Los Angeles Angels 9-2 behind a complete game effort from Hamels.

Game log

 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Rangers team member
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Rangers team member

Game log

 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Rangers team member
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Rangers team member

Statistics
Through 2015 season

Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Hickory