Nolan Writin'
Fansided

Texas Rangers: Let’s pay homage to the saving grace of the season

By Travis Koch

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 27: Keone Kela #50 of the Texas Rangers delivers a pitch in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 27, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 27: Keone Kela #50 of the Texas Rangers delivers a pitch in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 27, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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ST PETERSBURG, FL – APRIL 18: Alex Claudio #58 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 18, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

At the start of 2018…

A lot of unknowns surrounded the bullpen at the beginning of the year. The Rangers declared Keone Kela their closer, but he didn’t have the track record yet to where they could assume he’d have the role all year-long.

The organization took chances on a few veteran relievers, including Kevin Jepsen, Jesse Chavez and Chris Martin. Plus, the guys that did pitch well out of the pen last season came out struggling. Alex Claudio was struggling practically half way through May; Jose Leclerc and Matt Bush spent brief periods of time in the minors at the beginning of the year.

Jeff Banister was trying every combination of relief roles he could think of. Whether that was a bad approach or a good one, things finally started to settle down for the relief staff in May.

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