Another bump in the road for Rangers pitching no cause for concern

SURPRISE, Ariz. — If there was one strategy to describe the Rangers’ rotation this season, it might be high-risk, high-reward.

That was the final consensus all winter as Texas continued including arms with excessive upside on the sector, however with apparent considerations about their talents to do precisely that: keep on the sector. Of the highest six beginning pitchers on the depth chart, Martín Pérez is the one one who didn’t land on the IL in 2022:

And within the early days of Spring Training, the Rangers have run into extra velocity bumps than they might’ve appreciated.

First, deGrom entered camp with “left side tightness” that has restricted the 34-year-old since pitchers and catchers reported. Then, Eovaldi got here down with the same subject following his first Cactus League begin in opposition to the Royals on Feb. 25 and is anticipated to skip his subsequent one. In addition, Odorizzi had some “arm fatigue” early in camp and has been restricted to bullpen classes.

One last curveball was thrown an hour earlier than Friday’s Cactus League matchup in opposition to the Giants, which led to an 11-7 win for Texas, when Gray was scratched from his second begin of the spring with again tightness. His three IL stints in 2022 had been for a blister, a knee sprain and an indirect sprain.

“I think it’s usual for guys to go through minor aches and pains and soreness as the buildup occurs,” mentioned normal supervisor Chris Young. “I think for us, just given where we are in Spring Training, it’s the prudent thing to do to play everything pretty cautiously.”

deGrom has thrown three bullpens for the reason that preliminary four-day shutdown on Feb. 15, and may throw one other bullpen this weekend earlier than going through dwell batters quickly sufficient. Eovaldi shouldn’t be too far behind, and Gray and Odorizzi are day-to-day at this level.

The silver lining is that it’s nonetheless solely the primary week of March. That’s why the Rangers are enjoying this cautiously, with Young declaring that each deGrom and Eovaldi might, and would, pitch by the nagging tightness within the common season.

And, effectively, that is additionally why the Rangers have all that depth. Behind these six veterans within the rotation are three younger pitchers in Dane Dunning, Glenn Otto and Cole Ragans, all of whom have huge league expertise and may slot into the rotation at any time throughout the season, if obligatory.

“I feel like y’all are always quick to jump to the panic [button], but it’s all part of it,” Eovaldi mentioned. “I really feel just like the coaching employees is all the time cautious with everyone, particularly in terms of pitching. If you have got something off, they need us to inform them. And that is the great thing about our rotation. In my eyes, basically we now have eight starters. It’s OK if one man goes down. … Again, that is very minor. I in all probability would not have even mentioned something throughout the season.”

Eovaldi is true. It’s simply the second week of Cactus League video games, and the Rangers’ teaching and coaching employees don’t see any cause to be involved simply but. On the skin, it’s comprehensible, nevertheless it’s clear that Texas is being overcautious with all its starters contemplating their age and damage historical past.

It’s not reasonable that every one 5 prime starters will stay wholesome all season lengthy, however that doesn’t imply the sky is falling in mid-March.

“[There is] nothing of significant concern regarding these up to this point,” Young reiterated. “I think we’re being very cautious with all of our guys and making sure that we get them through the early stages of camp as they build up, have new aches and pains. But obviously we want to see these things dissipate in the next five to seven days with each player respectively.”