Tanner Scheppers is ready to put 2014 behind him, and it's easy to see.
The righty who was a dominant setup man in 2013, posting a 1.88 ERA with a huge workload of 76 2/3 innings, which many have suggested was a reason for his arm trouble in 2014. But that's not the only suspicious Scheppers number that could've led to him missing most of the 2014 season.
That's because Scheppers was moved to the starting rotation in 2014, and was actually the team's Opening Day starter, and the experiment was a disaster.
He finished the year with an 0-1 record and a 9.00 ERA in four starts and four subsequent relief appearances after a DL stint that quickly resulted in another, season-ending DL stint.
Now, he's ready to go back to late-game, one-inning situations with tons of leverage involved.
“To be able to work with one of the best in Joe [Nathan], I learned a lot out there. I like to be in those tough situations, with the game on the line. That’s what it’s all about for me.”
Scheppers' success will be telling for the Rangers, who don't have much established depth in the bullpen, with the most experienced guys being Scheppers and closer Neftali Feliz, who's trying to rediscover his greatness from 2010 and 2011.
