When the Texas Rangers traded for Matt Garza two weeks prior to the July 31 trade deadline, they did so with the hopes of fortifying an injury-riddled starting rotation and getting a guy that had proven postseason experience, including a 2-0 record in the 2008 ALCS fo Tampa Bay.
Garza spoke then about helping the Rangers reach the postseason and then doing his thing once they got there. Well, now the Rangers are on the brink of a massive collapse and missing the postseason altogether, and Garza has been no help in alleviating the situation.
The free-agent-to-be right-hander lost his third straight September start on Monday night against his former team and didn't even make it through the fifth inning after allowing four straight hits and seeing a 2-2 tie disappear in a hurry.
Garza now has allowed 15 runs in 15 1/3 innings while allowing 22 hits in his three September starts — all losses. He's now 3-5 since joining the Rangers and has seen his season ERA climb three runs since joining the Rangers after he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs.
There's still some hope for Garza, given his postseason track record and the way he was pitching for the Cubs before he was acquired, but things sure are looking bleak right now.
