Ogando Gives Brass Something to Consider Down Stretch

The Texas Rangers had it all figured out.

After a great start to his first season as a starting pitcher, Alexi Ogando hit a wall and was ready to move back to the bullpen, where he was so successful last season in the set-up role.

Reports said Ogando would make his final start of the season on Thursday night in the Rangers' series finale against the Cleveland Indians and then move back to the bullpen in preparation for the playoffs where he might fill the seventh-inning role.

That all might still happen, but Ogando made a case Thursday night that maybe he shouldn't be left out of the postseason rotation talk after all.

Ogando had his usual, as of late, early troubles when he had some walks to load the bases in the second inning with one out. He ended up throwing 39 pitches just to get out of the second, but he got out of it without allowing a run.

With an electric crowd behind him, Ogando got Lonnie Chisenhall and Lou Marson swinging to kill the Indians hopes.

By the time it was over, Ogando was out after six innings, allowing just two hits, two walks and no runs in an economical 92 pitches.

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The short-term future of Ogando is still in question after last night, but the long-term one appears to be very bright as Ogando can prepare for a full off-season to be a starter that his front office can trust.

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