Baker Getting Crack at Rotation

After a mass upheaval of the Texas Rangers' pitching staff was announced on Tuesday, the club will have another new starting pitcher this season when Scott Baker will take the mound to start Friday's game in Detroit.

The veteran was brought in during the spring to provide some starting pitching depth and has appeared in one game for the Rangers this year — a long-relief stint that was successful by long-relief standards when he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings. That was on May 7 in one of those blowout losses to Colorado, and he hasn't pitched since.

Baker is a starter by trade with 162 starts under his belt at the big-league level compared to just five relief appearances. In 2013 with the Cubs, he started three games in September with a 3.60 ERA after missing most of the season with injury. He missed all of 2012 with injury, but in 2011, he was 8-6 with a 3.14 ERA with the Minnesota Twins.

"We're trying to move some pieces into positions where they can be successful," Washington told reporters about all the moves.

Joe Saunders could be back in the Rangers' rotation soon, as well, as he made a successful rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, but Baker will have his shot to earn a spot and it all starts on Friday.

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