Remember that stretch of a solid month recently when pitchers other than Yu Darvish didn't turn in a quality start for the Texas Rangers? It killed the team, thanks in large part to burning out the Rangers' bullpen that has since been fortified by Robbie Ross, and if all goes well, soon by Tanner Scheppers.
Now with a bit of a new-look starting rotation with season-ending injuries to Matt Harrison and Martin Perez, the Rangers have since started piling up quality starts (minimum 6 innings pitched, maximum three earned runs allowed) behind guys like Nick Martinez and recent call-up Nick Tepesch, not to mention Colby Lewis' tendency to fall one out shy of technically meeting the quality start standard.
Tepesch appeared to be a lock to be in the Rangers' starting rotation heading into the season with the injury situation on the staff, but his spring was so awful he was sent to Triple-A after figuring into the starting rotation in 2013.
He went 6-1 with a sub-2.00 ERA in Round Rock this year before finally getting his shot in Arlington. He's made three starts and now his two most recent ones are of the quality variety after he held the Minnesota Twins to two runs in 6 2/3 innings on Monday to win consecutive starts for the first time in his career. He now has a 2.95 ERA for the Rangers this year.
You have to wonder how long guys like Tepesch and Martinez can keep up their recent success, but do so with the thought in the back of your mind that Derek Holland could be back in a few weeks to make his season debut.
Things are getting somewhat interesting after it seemed the season was lost just last week.
