The Texas Rangers have waited a while to see Justin Grimm go fairly deep into a game, and after Tuesday's outing to open a three-game series with Seattle, the Rangers will have to wait a little bit longer.
Grimm lasted just four innings, getting knocked out in the fifth after a three-run home run from Kendrys Morales — his second of the night — and gave up six runs (five earned), while giving up three long balls making it six straight Grimm starts where he's allowed at least one homer.
Since June 4 and over his last six starts, Grimm's ERA is now a sky-high 9.31 and he's 2-3 over that span. With those numbers, it's near-miraculous that he's still in a big-league rotation, but at this point the Rangers don't have many other options unless they make a deal nearly a month in advance of the July 31 trade deadline.
But soon, the Rangers will have other options, if things go as planned. Starters Alexi Ogando and Colby Lewis are set to return to the rotation at some point this month, which would push two guys out of the current starting rotation, and that's assuming no starting pitcher is acquired at the deadline.
The obvious two candidates are Grimm and fellow rookie Nick Tepesch. Both got off to strong starts this season but have since been figured out by big-league hitters. Even long-relief man Ross Wolf could be a rotation candidate, even if it's just a short-term deal.
Ron Washington has stuck by his rookie starters all season, but after Tuesday's rough night against a relatively light-hitting Mariners team, you have to wonder if Grimm's long-term prospects with the big-league club are grim.
