Pitching Staff Looking Familiar

Remember last year, when the Texas Rangers started the season with Rich Harden and Scott Feldman atop the rotation, with an unproven starter in C.J. Wilson at No. 3, a Japan transfer in Colby Lewis at No. 4 and uncertainty at No. 5 in the starting rotation?

How did that turn out?

Well, it changed dramatically as there were several injuries, and flame outs, and by the time we got into the grind, C.J. Wilson was the No. 1, Lewis was No. 2, Tommy Hunter was No. 3 after starting the season on the DL and 4 and 5 were up in the air.

Then, of course, everything changed on July 10, 2010, when it was announced the Rangers acquired Cliff Lee from Seattle.

This year has been much different for the Rangers pitching staff.

C.J. Wilson has pitched like an ace, Colby Lewis rebounded from a poor start and has been a stellar No. 2. Matt Harrison has been a great surprise at No. 3 despite a few poor outings. Of course, Alexi Ogando has been the surprise of the season with the best numbers of any Rangers starter after being a set-up man for half a season last year, and Derek Holland has been, well, Derek Holland. Inconsistent, but at times phenomenal as the No. 5 starter.

Wilson and Ogando are both in the All-Star Game with their identical 9-3 records (3.20 and 2.92 ERAs, respectively), which marks the first time in club history that two starting pitchers have made the All-Star Game.

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Lewis, Ogando and Harrison have each missed one start, and that's it.

It's nice to have a solid five guys that you can count on on a daily basis, and it's really uncommon, unless you're Philadelphia.

With Scott Feldman close to a return and Tommy Hunter in the bullpen for now, things might get mixed up a bit, but it's not going to be anything major, if at all.

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