When the Rangers brought in veteran pitcher Jeremy Guthrie on a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league spring training, it was done with the hope he could compete for what is seen as a temporary spot as the No. 5 starter in the Rangers' pitching rotation.
Guthrie posted 200-inning seasons in 2013 and 2014 but fell off a bit in 2015 as a 36-year-old starter for the Royals. He's still in the running for the fifth starter's job that will be taken away upon Yu Darvish's return in late May or early June, but only because no one has taken the bull by the horns, so to say.
Guthrie had his latest outing on Monday as he came on in relief for Martin Perez after five innings, and the veteran proceeded to give up five runs on five hits in three innings of work. He allowed back-to-back home runs in his first inning of work.
It was Guthrie's first really bad outing of the spring, but it came with just a few weeks remaining before the Rangers must figure out their fifth starter situation.
