The Texas Rangers Young Guns Take on the Yankees

Today begins a three-game series between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees. Matt Harrison (2-0) takes on Ivan Nova (1-0) at 6:05 Central. Tomorrow at 12:05, Derek Holland (2-0) will pitch against Freddy Garcia (0-0). For the Sunday night game on ESPN its Alexi Ogando (2-0) facing CC Sabathia (0-1) in the ESPN Sunday Night game.

Did you pick up a pattern there? The back of the rotation for Rangers has a collective 6 and 0 record. Surprisingly the most productive pitching has not come from CJ Wilson or Colby Lewis. The best arms of the season are the least expected. Before the spring my rotation would have been completely different and certainly would not have had Harrison or Ogando.

The Numbers:

Matt Harrison, a left-handed pitcher who turns 26 this August, has pitched in 14 innings this season. In those innings Harrison has allowed seven hits and just two runs. The lefty also has 11 strikeouts on the young season and only three walks.

Derek Holland 24, has pitched 12 innings. In that time he’s allowed 12 hits and only three runs. Holland has 11 strikeouts and only 3 walks.

Alexi Ogando who had unknown potential coming into the season has been the most impressive. Slightly older than the other two, the right-hander turns 28 in October. Alexi Ogando has 13 innings under his belt and has not allowed a single run. He has given up four hits and three walks but no scoring at all.

Collectively between the three pitchers they have 39 innings with 23 hits and only 5 runs allowed.

The Yankees:

Many Texas fans took great pride in defeating the New York Yankees last October for the American League Pennant. This weekend will be an exciting return to those emotions. We will have an opportunity to see our young pitchers against some of the best bats in baseball. For me I absolutely cannot wait to see Alexi Ogando battle a former Cy Young winner in CC Sabathia. There was no way possible that ESPN could have planned a better match-up for the Sunday Night game.

Aside from the pitching the Rangers have a lot to prove this weekend. For starters they have to prove they can continue to win without Josh Hamilton in the lineup. They have to prove to New York that last year wasn’t a fluke and they will continue to be a force in the American League for years to come. The boys from Arlington will get that chance in the national spotlight Sunday night. Don’t be surprised if the Rangers’ young guns sweep the Yanks.

-Jonathan