Kumar Rocker experience needs to be over if Rangers value not overtaxing their bullpen

One start after Kumar Rocker only pitches two innings in a 5-1 loss in Detroit, the 26-year-old Georgia native couldn't escape the fourth inning on Friday and it raises a lot of questions about whether or not it's even worth having him pitch every fifth day.

If the Texas Rangers value any sense of keeping the bullpen healthy and not imploding down the stretch, changes need to be made.

Rocker's short outings hurting himself and the team

A big league starter is supposed to be able to give you at least five inning outings pretty consistently. Understood that it doesn't always end up that way but more often than not, a pitcher is at least seeing the mound in the fifth.

Including Friday's 3.2 innings, this is the third time in seven starts where he's failed to get through at least five innings in a game this year.

Thankfully Rocker's last two starts were backed up by multiple innings of Cal Quantrill to save the bullpen extra pitches. Unfortunately, neither of them ended up being wins for Texas, which is honestly the story of the season thus far.

On Friday, outside of Quantrill, only two arms were used for a total of 30 pitches and set the bullpen up in pretty good shape for the final two games against the Cubs.

Rocker needs to find it or go to Triple-A

It's been confusing to watch Rockers' career thus far. Ever since being drafted by Texas in 2022, he showed promise but has never really gotten over the hump.

Last season was his first full season in the big leagues and it didn't go well. This season he has made seven starts and has a 1-4 record, 5.01 ERA, 27 strikeouts, 13 walks and 1.52 WHIP in 32.1 innings of work. If Rocker had enough innings pitched to qualify for season stats right now, that WHIP would be seventh worst in baseball and the ERA would clock in tied for 12th.

Part of me sees why Rocker is still the fifth man in the rotation. He's still young and can shift his performance around quickly but he's still behind in his progress.

While Texas has a couple of arms in the bullpen that could switch to the rotation, it also wouldn't put them in the strongest position to compete every fifth day. Rocker needs to find it or there needs to be serious conversations regarding his future with the big league club.

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