Holland Has Another Shot at History

Heading into Derek Holland's last start, he needed to go seven innings, allow one or fewer runs and walk no one to extend his streak to four straight such starts after he became the first pitcher in baseball since 1900 to have three straight such outings to begin his season, which of course began in early September after a five-month stay on the DL.

On Monday night, as Holland makes his fifth start of the season, he'll be looking to make club history by becoming just the second pitcher in franchise history to start his season with five outings of allowing one run or less in at least six innings. If he does that on Monday against Houston, he'd join Ferguson Jenkins in the franchise record books, who accomplished the feat in 1974.

Holland has pitched 27 1/3 innings in his four starts and has a pristine ERA of 0.99 since coming back from microfracture surgery on his knee after falling down stairs in January and missing the season's first five months. In his four starts, thus far, Holland has 22 strikeouts and just three walks — all in his previous outing.

It was Holland's injury that set off the historic run of injuries the Rangers suffered throughout the 2014 season, but he's finishing on a very high note and could further solidify the Rangers' confidence in him as a strong No. 2 pitcher next season.

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