Texas Rangers Probable Starters April 19

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Recently the Texas Rangers announced that they will are going to be changing up the pitching rotation to break up the lefties Derek Holland and Matt Harrison. The byproduct of this move is that it also breaks apart the two newest starting pitchers Neftali Feliz and Yu Darvish. By mixing the pitchers the Rangers should be able to put pressure on opposing clubs to change up rosters throughout the series.

Tonight’s match between the Rangers and the Detroit Tigers will be the first game with the new rotation. Yu Darvish will be on the mound tonight in his 3rd start as a Texas Ranger. Darvish has yet to be able to go past 5.2 innings in a start but his understanding of how to handle MLB hitters has grown. In his second start he allowed 9 hits but only a single run, and 4 each of walks and strikeouts. It will be important for Yu to lower his walk to strikeout ratio. The Rangers are 10-2 on the year, and tonight they play game 13 which starts a new series against the Tigers.

In AAA action the Round Rock Express will try to get back on the rail after being blanked yesterday by the Omaha Storm Chasers 4-0. Lefty Zach Jackson will be on the bump for the Express in his 3rd start of the season. In both of his previous starts he has allowed 4 runs which will not work in his favor if this trend continues. Jackson has also allowed 1 homerun in each of his other start. His ERA is currently at 6.35 and a 0-1 record. The Express have a record of 5-9, tonight’s game will be number 15 for them.

After a day off, the AA Frisco RoughRiders are back in action today. As they open a new series against the Corpus Christi Hooks they are putting RHP Barrett Loux on the mound. This will be his 3rd start of the year, but the first that isn’t against the Springfield Cardinals. Loux is 2-0 on the year with a 1.69 ERA. Loux needs to improve on the number of allowed hits; he has pitched 10.2 innings but has allowed 14 hits. Given that he has also issued 4 free passes; too many opponents are getting on base. The ‘Riders are 8-4 on the year; tonight’s match will be game 13.

The Advanced A Myrtle Beach Pelicans are on the road for their first series against the Carolina Mudcats, the new affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Nick Tepesch will be looking for his first win of the year as he takes the mound tonight. He is 0-2 despite having a 2.79 ERA. In each of his previous starts he has allowed 4 hits and 3 runs, while chalking up 3 strikeouts. While not giving up a great deal of hits he needs to work on minimizing the damage that the hits are doing. The Pelicans are 6-6 on the year, today’s game will be game 13 of the year.

Last night the Class A Hickory Crawdads were rained out. With the postponement Jerad Eickhoff will instead pitch tonight in the first game of a road series against the Savannah Sand Gnats. The ‘Dads are 8-5 and this match will become game 14 for Hickory.

Good luck today and Go Rangers!

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