Holland's Confidence Remains High After 5th Straight Quality Start

Derek Holland came away with a no decision on Thursday night, as the Indians pulled off the highly rare feat of getting to Rangers’ closer Joe Nathan for a comeback victory, but perhaps more important as Texas prepares for a playoff run, the man they call Dutch left the park after the 5-4 loss with his confidence unshaken.

"I feel very confident," Holland said, per ESPN Dallas. "Even before, I thought everything was good it's just that the numbers didn't show it. Overall, location-wise and pitch selection, I think I'm doing a better job now. I'm happy with the way things are going."

Holland has good reason to be confident. He has thrown five straight quality starts, and though he’s gotten the win in just one of his last three starts, he has posted a 2.04 ERA in that span and an impressive 24-5 strikeout to walk ratio.

"I thought Derek was pretty good, really," Rangers’ manager Ron Washington said Thursday night. "He got into some trouble through the course of the ballgame, but he was able to pitch around it. He just got a ball up right were LaPorta was swinging and he hit it out. Other than that, he gave up seven innings and kept us in the ballgame."