Takeaways from the Texas Rangers Opening Weekend

About the Pitching Staff

In Spring Training, it looked like the Rangers were going to have a pretty decent pitching staff coming into the season, as none of the pitchers really looked horrible, but it’s been a rather rough start for quite a few of the pitchers. Let’s take a game by game look at the pitching staff.

Game 1

Mike Minor‘s stat line shows that he was not very good, but in reality, Elvis Andrus was hit in the face with a ball that could have been turned for a double play and ended the inning, but it didn’t happen, and to quote former Rangers manager Ron Washington, “That’s the way baseball go.” Minor wound up being beaten up for 6 earned runs in 4.2 innings.

Jesse Chavez came in to relieve him. Chavez was LIT UP. He gave up 3 runs and let 4 batters reach, while only getting two outs before being pulled for Jeanmar Gomez and Kyle Bird who both struggled with their control and got a combined 1 out. Outside of Kyle Dowdy being lit up for 3 runs over 2 innings, the rest of the game wasn’t that eventful.

Game 2

Edinson Volquez struggled in his 4 innings of work, as he allowed 10 baserunners, letting 4 of them score. Jeanmar Gomez made another relief appearance and was roughed up for 2 more runs in an inning, but after that, Jeffrey Springs, Sean Kelley (who picked up the Rangers first win of the season), and Jose Leclerc were all fantastic in relief.

Game 3

Lance Lynn struggled, giving up 7 runs in 5.2 innings, including blowing the lead after Delino Deshields picked up his first hit of the season in the grandest fashion. Continuing on his game 1 performance, Jesse Chavez went into the game and allowed 3 baserunners without getting an out, and giving up the lead.

Kyle Bird had a solid outing, not giving up any runs, before Chris Martin wanted to take a turn to blow the lead, causing Chris Woodward to put in Jose Leclerc with two outs in the 8th and had him pitch in the 9th as well to keep the game tied, before the Rangers walked it off in the 9th.