Robbie Ross Jr. recovered from a bad start to his outing on Sunday, lasting 6 2/3 innings after getting tagged in the early innings.
In his two outings prior to that, he got shelled by both Colorado and Oakland, and appeared to possibly be on his way back to the bullpen before being given one more shot against the Red Sox on Sunday.
Though the results weren't great on Sunday — six hits, five runs, three strikeouts and two walks — the way he recovered was somewhat promising, although you would've preferred to see him start that way.
With Nick Tepesch steamrolling through Triple-A lineups this year, it appeared to be only a matter of time before he'd get another shot at the big leagues after a failed attempt in 2013. Turns out, he's getting his shot, but it's for the absent Martin Perez, who is likely headed to the DL with elbow inflammation.
If Perez does in fact hit the DL, which wouldn't be surprising, that would mean either Ross stays in the rotation instead of going to fortify a struggling bullpen, or Joe Saunders, who made his second rehab start from an injured ankle, steps back into the rotation, where he began the season and was injured his first start.
Ross in the bullpen can pitch multiple times a week. Give me that over Saunders doing the same and Ross pitching every fifth day. We'll see what the Rangers decide.
