Starting Pitching Woes a Concern

First it was an injury to Neftali Feliz, then Derek Holland joined him on the DL. Next up, was Colby Lewis. Then Colby Lewis came back, went back on the DL and had to have season-ending arm surgery. Days later it was announced Feliz was in line for Tommy John surgery.

Roy Oswalt flamed out as a starter, and the Rangers didn't get either of their top two targets at the trade deadline in Cole Hamels (re-signed with Philadelphia) or Zack Greinke, who was traded for by the Rangers' biggest rival.

After all of that, you'd think the Rangers would be pulling up the bottom of the standings in the AL West, but instead, they are tied with the New York Yankees for the biggest division lead in all of baseball and have the best record in the American League.

They went through their extended offensive slump when their starting pitching carried them, led by Matt Harrison, Yu Darvish and yes, even Scott Feldman. Now, Holland and Darvish are both struggling horribly, and Matt Harrison is coming off a weak start with an excuse built in of having to receive an I.V. after the game because he was suffering from flu-like symptoms.

Darvish has a 6.75 ERA in his last seven starts, while Holland has a 5.31 ERA in 40 2/3 innings since returning from the disabled list.

With the next two series coming up being against the dangerous lineups of the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, the Rangers need their starting pitchers to get back to what they showed they can be earlier in the season. The Rangers' bats can be back all the way, but we all know pitching is what wins in the postseason, and right now, the Rangers aren't very squared away in that department.

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