Does this Rangers southpaw actually deserve a spot in the starting rotation?

The Texas Rangers starting rotation has been an enigma throughout 2025 providing some of the best statistics in Major League Baseball despite being ravaged by injuries and one disappointing rookie season.

This has led Texas to throwing things at a wall and hoping they stick some times. Something has stuck and his name is Jacob Latz.

Latz was having a disappointing beginning to his career despite low expectations due to his long relief role. His ability to throw multiple innings and give the bullpen a rest has been vital to him staying at the big league level.

Where has this Latz turnaround come from?

Sometime during his last two starts, something clicked for the left-hander against the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles. In between those starts was a tremendous extended relief outing against the Kansas City Royals during the last homestand.

In those games, he has pitched a combined 15 innings yielding six hits, 11 strikeouts and six walks all while throwing 60+ pitches each time. He has been efficient, set career highs and just outright good in those outings.

These have been against favorable opponents but that does not take anything away from the outings. He went six no-hit innings against the Orioles and struck out seven in 3 1/3 innings against Washington.

Those achievements aren't flukes rather the result of hitting spots and missing bats. The importance of this cannot be understated following the injuries to Cody Bradford Nathan Eovaldi and Tyler Mahle.

To say he has been a fan favorite would be an understatement. His numbers have not warranted the hate in his career and he has been unlucky to this point of his career. A comeback story in the fans eyes is a quick way to change their opinions.

He is already at 36 1/3 innings which would be 7 1/3 innings off his career high at this point. Similar to Jose Urena last year, he has made a profound impact on the team that has been wildly downplayed and unexpected.

Limiting his innings while everyone is hurt would be detrimental to this team as long as he continues to pitching well. There is no time to waste in this season and this decision to change him to a full-time starter should be easy.

Latz has warranted respect from the organization and should be rewarded for his strong performance this season with a spot in the starting rotation for the time being.