Looking at the Texas Rangers farm system prior to this season, it would've been easy to say who would get the first call to make a spot start if the Rangers were facing a desperate situation in their starting rotation.
Well, that time is here with Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland on the disabled list, and Alexi Ogando joining them after being moved from the bullpen to make a spot start. And it's not Martin Perez or Neil Ramirez getting the call to Arlington. Instead, it's Double-A Frisco pitcher Justin Grimm who will start on Saturday against the Houston Astros.
Grimm, 23, has seemingly passed up Perez and Ramirez in the Rangers farm pecking order after posting a great first half in Frisco and earning a spot in the Double-A All-Star Game since posting an 8-3 record in 2012 with a 1.87 ERA in 13 starts for the Rough Riders. In his 77 innings of work this season, he has 67 strikeouts and 14 walks.
The best thing about Grimm getting the nod on Saturday as opposed to someone like Michael Kirkman or Robbie Ross is that Grimm has been starting all season and is stretched out to start games. Heck, he's going up against a pathetic lineup for the Astros that got perfected on Wednesday night so he might be able to get a decent start and go into the sixth inning or so.
You've seen Grimm's minor-league numbers, now take a look at Perez's and Ramirez's: Perez is 3-5 with a 5.40 ERA and Ramirez is 6-6 with a 7.88 ERA. Ouch. If nothing else, maybe getting passed up by a guy in Double-A will spark the two to get their stuff together and turn their seasons around.
