Derek Holland made personal history in his last start, and now he'll look to build on his historic run of three straight quality starts tonight when he toes the rubber on national television against the Cleveland Indians.
Seriously, all kidding aside, Holland has been great over a nine start stretch that has included just two stinkers and is going for his 14th win this evening. Not bad for a guy that's been a No. 5 starter for much of the season but is now looking at starting Game 2 of a playoff series if this version of Holland keeps up.
Of course when Holland is on his game, he might be the best arm the Rangers have. He has four complete game shutouts this season and has three straight starts of at least six innings with three or less earned runs allowed — the first time in his career he's accomplished such a feat.
Holland goes up against a struggling Cleveland team tonight, a struggling Cleveland team that Holland has already owned once this season with one his shutouts back in early June. Then again, the Indians banged Holland around for four earned runs in 1 2/3 innings on Aug. 5 in a game the Rangers eventually came back to win with the now-famous RBI infield single from Josh Hamilton that scored Elvis Andrus from second base.
Tonight is a big night for Holland. It's big for his confidence, and more importantly, it's big for the Rangers confidence in him.
