Your Texas Rangers are now 8-1 and while a lot of the credit (rightfully so) has gone to the Rangers' electric offense so far, the pitching has been a huge surprise.
Entering the season, there was no doubt that the question marks on this team were in the starting rotation and in the bullpen. And so far? So good.
C.J. Wilson has been good. Colby Lewis has seen some early struggles, taking the Rangers' only loss on Saturday when the Orioles won 5-0. But the biggest surprises so far have been the performances of No. 3 pitcher Matt Harrison, No. 4 starter Derek Holland and No. 5 "temporary starter" Alexi Ogando.
Harrison and Holland had their second go through the rotation over the weekend and both shined against a hot-hitting Orioles club. On Saturday night, Harrison matched his first outing with seven innings and watched his ERA dip to 1.29 on the season.
On Sunday, Holland was equally as impressive against the same Baltimore lineup. Holland also improved to 2-0 with six innings of scoreless baseball as he gave up just five hits with six strikeouts.
That leaves Ogando, who was perhaps the most impressive in the first go through the rotation, to go today against a tough Detroit lineup in a park (Comerica) where the Rangers have historically struggled.
One has to think Lewis will be fine sooner than later, and if the back half of the rotation can continue this success, the Rangers might not be missing Cliff Lee as much as we'd thought.
