The Texas Rangers would love for Nick Tepesch to be a factor in the 2015 starting rotation, and they've already made it known they're going to seek at least one starting pitcher via free agency this offseason.
That would seem to say Tepesch, along with fellow youngster Nick Martinez and veteran Colby Lewis, will be competing for a spot in the rotation behind Yu Darvish and Derek Holland, and whoever the Rangers can lure in free agency.
If September is any indication, Tepesch is making a strong case for himself — as are Martinez and Lewis, really — to be in the conversation. The soon-to-be 26-year-old righty worked seven innings on Sunday and took a no-decision as the Rangers waited until the ninth inning to beat Angels closer Huston Street and win their third straight series.
Tepesch gave up one run on four hits over his seven innings of work and dropped his September ERA to 3.10 over his four starts this month. It also dropped his season ERA to a somewhat respectable by 2014-Rangers standards 4.14.
Prior to the season, Tepesch was absolutely horrendous in spring training and gave the Rangers no other choice but to start him in Triple-A. They'll hope he can take this momentum he's building to Arizona in February and get off to a better start and force the Rangers to put him on the big-league roster for the 2015 season.
