Roy Oswalt To Make Rangers Debut Friday, Scott Feldman To Bullpen

The Rangers just announced that Roy Oswalt will make his Rangers and 2012 Major League season debut on Friday night against the Colorado Rockies. This makes sense because it was originally Justin Grimm’s day to start and because it will allow Oswalt to start against a National League team where he spent his entire career (albeit in an American League park). The Rangers announced that Oswalt will be followed by Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison and Grimm. Which means yesterday’s starter Scott Feldman will go back to the bullpen.

The decision to start Grimm probably is more a testament to Grimm earning another start then it is Feldman being demoted. Feldman has actually pitched quite well the last few games but just earned his first win yesterday. The fact he goes back to the bullpen does give the Rangers more multiple-inning options should Oswalt or Grimm (or any of the other starters) need help in the early innings.

It’s also a way for the Rangers to see exactly what they have in Grimm. They know what they have in Feldman and there isn’t much to learn from him by giving him another start. This way, they don’t need to send Grimm back to the minor leagues and use an option (yet) and give him more Major League experience.

The Rangers rotation, with the addition of Oswalt and Grimm, looks a lot better than it did 10 days ago when Alexi Ogando first went on the disabled list. You should expect either a pitcher (Michael Kirkman or Tanner Scheppers) or Leonys Martin to go down to Round Rock but it would depend if another roster move is completed for Mitch Moreland’s injury.