2016 Texas Rangers season
The 2016 Texas Rangers season was the Rangers' 56th season of the franchise and the 45th since the team relocated to Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won the American League West title for the second straight season, with the best record in the American League. However, for the second straight year, they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS, this time in three games. The Rangers set an MLB record by going 36–11 in one-run games. Because of this stat as well as the team winning 95 games instead of their projected 80 wins, baseball pundits viewed the Rangers as a "lucky" team.
2016 Texas Rangers
95–67 (.586)
1st
Rangers Baseball Express (Ray Davis and Bob R. Simpson)
KRLD 105.3 FM (English)
(Eric Nadel, Matt Hicks, Dave Raymond, Jared Sandler)
KZMP 1540 AM (Spanish)
(Eleno Orlenas, Jerry Romo)
Blue Jays–Rangers brawl[edit]
During the May 15, 2016, game against the Toronto Blue Jays, there were two benches-clearing incidents. Following a contentious meeting in the ALDS the previous season, many people thought the Rangers would target Jose Bautista for his controversial bat flip in the ALDS. However, the first six games of the season between the clubs were played without incident. Finally, in the last regular season game between the clubs, Rangers reliever Matt Bush hit Bautista in the ribs with a fastball. On the ensuing play, Bautista slid hard into Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor. Odor, taking exception, pushed Bautista, then proceeded to punch Bautista squarely in the face. This fight caused both benches and bullpens to clear.[1][2] Bautista, Odor, Steve Buechele, and Josh Donaldson were ejected after the brawl.[3] Later in the game, Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Chavez hit Prince Fielder with a pitch causing the benches to clear again, although this time no punches were thrown. Chavez and DeMarlo Hale were ejected following this incident.[3] Odor would serve a seven game suspension for his actions.[4] Toronto manager John Gibbons and Chavez would serve three games suspensions while Bautista and Elvis Andrus served one game suspensions.[5]