Despite the offensive output post all star break, the pitching staff has been steadily gaining steam. The deadline acquisitions of the Rangers have been playing at a high level.
Merrill Kelly, Danny Coulumbe, and Phil Maton have all played key roles in some huge Rangers wins. What has made it more apparent is how Rangers pitchers have performed post deadline that were seen as mainstays on the team prior to then.
Chris Young ignored the calls to replace some bats. Buying just pitching was bold but reinforcing of his thoughts on the teams construction. We can’t go back and buy bats but can appreciate what he did do.
3 reasons why Chris young got it right:
There was a back end of the rotation problem
To say that the Rangers starting pitching has been elite all season would be a lie. While they have gotten career and all time seasons to this point out of almost everyone, the 5th and 6th starter spot has caused major issues.
Mahle missing time along with Eovaldi’s minor injuries have caused a necessary 6 man rotation. The last 2 in that rotation have been a revolving door of Jacob Latz, Kumar Rocker, and bullpen games.
Kumar Rocker was seen as a lock for the rotation before the season and has had an awful season to this point. Tyler Mahle, Jack Leiter, and Patrick Corbin have anchored behind deGrom and Eovaldi but injuries have played a role in slowing momentum.
With how little runs are being scored, they just can’t afford to not be perfect. Adding Merrill Kelly has been incredible. He is an arm that can eat innings even when he is off or go 7 dominant innings any day.
Turning a strong position to an elite one will also give us a spoil of riches in a playoff scenario. If they get in, a rotation that can go deGrom, Eovaldi, Kelly, and Leiter will give us a chance against anyone.
Long term bullpen options have faltered
Adding Coulumbe and Maton have steadied a bullpen that was falling apart. Robert Garcia has seemingly been bit by the home run bug which has allowed Maton to step into the closer role flawlessly.
Leverage spots have been solved by the new additions and helped ease the pressure on other relievers. Matchups have become easier to navigate as well. Bochy has navigated problem spots very well post deadline that likely would have been implode innings before.
Jacob Webb’s injury, Latz demotion, Garcia being bad among other problems have shown major cracks in what has been here. Ignoring the pitching staff because of strong prior results rather than reinforcing them could have ended the season early.
They have limited runs just enough for the offense
There is no hiding the lineups inability to score in bunches. This has caused the pitching staff to be perfect all year. It is impossible to be perfect but the staff has almost been perfect more than it hasn’t.
Despite scoring less than 5 runs in 6 of 8 games post deadline, they still have managed to win 3 of them. This has all been in games against playoff teams currently with strong offenses as well.
Stretches like this could crater the season fast but limiting runs scored for other teams have given them chances. If the offense can just be a little bit better than they have been, they can go on another great run.
Time is running out but there is still some left. With mainly playoff teams remaining to face for the Rangers, the new look pitching staff will give this team a chance.
