ARLINGTON, Texas– The Rangers contemplate heading into the three-week run-up to the All-Star break, which will likely to determine the ultimate direction the season takes, without a No. 5 starter.
A polite suggestion: They better make sure they have a No. 4 first.
Right-hander Glenn Otto returned to that role Sunday after missing nearly three weeks due to COVID protocols and lasted only two innings in a 6-4 loss to Washington. The Rangers scored eight runs over three games in dropping two of three to Washington, a team that entered the series 22 games below .500 and allowing more runs per game than any team in the majors.
And the Rangers scored three of those runs Sunday in the ninth to make the game seem a little more interesting. Marcus Semien, the potential tying run, grounded out against Washington closer Tanner Rainey to end the game. Semien and Corey Seager, the foundations of the Rangers’ future, went hitless in five at-bats in the eighth and ninth innings over the three games either as the tying or go-ahead run. The Rangers went 1 for 20 with runners in scoring position over the weekend.
“We’ve got to do a better job putting of creating pressure,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “We’re not putting enough traffic out there. We kind of went through this earlier. We’ve got to be a little more disciplined in the zone and not necessarily swinging at every strike.”
True that. But it’s also more difficult to resist when you fall behind by three runs before coming to bat and by six runs for the start of the second. That’s the hole Otto created. He walked Juan Soto in the first, then allowed consecutive hits, a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring double.
The second inning was more egregious. He walked No. 9 hitter Riley Adams, who was then thrown out stealing. With two outs, he allowed a walk to César Hernández, and back to back hits. Nelson Cruz drove home to more with a single, but the nearly 42-year-old was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. Yes, two of Otto’s outs came on the bases.
While this was Otto’s shortest start of the year, he’s flirted with trouble in most of his previous eight starts due to walks. He walked five against Seattle in his last pre-COVID start and has now walked 23 in his last 33 innings. He threw first-pitch balls to six of the 13 batters he faced and allowed two run-scoring hits after battling to two strikes.
“I’ve got to be better and able to get deeper into games,” Otto said. “I’ve got to make more competitive pitches. I just fell behind too many guys. It’s a lot harder up hear when you make it hard on yourself.”
Said Woodward: “We’ve got to get him back on his feet a little bit. He’s obviously pitched decent for us this year. The next start, I think is going to be really important for him to kind of get back out there and right the ship.”
It is a daunting task: The next start will come next weekend against the NL East-leading New York Mets. As they try to scramble to .500 or above, the Rangers are looking at Otto and a “bullpen game” in that series at Citi Field.
They are considering using bullpen games in the fifth spot because they aren’t completely confident in their minor league options. It would mean using the bullpen three times over the 19 games leading up to the All-Star break and not using two upcoming scheduled off days to get other starters rest.
Using the bullpen Saturday, the Rangers beat Washington 3-2 in what had been Taylor Hearn’s spot. Hearn, who pitched in relief Saturday, was optioned to the minors after the game and will work as a multi-inning reliever at Triple-A Round Rock. Woodward said he believes that role is what Hearn is best suited for on a “championship club.”
All of which leaves this question: Then who might fill the fifth spot?
“It’s a little slim right now,” Woodward said of minor league options to take over the fifth spot. “We need somebody to step up. We’ve looked at it a number of different ways. If we have to go the bullpen game for a couple of starts, we have the multi-inning arms to do it.”
One problem is the Rangers simply haven’t been very good in those bullpen games. Their 3-2 walkoff win Saturday was their first in seven bullpen games this season.
Another problem: They might not have that bullpen depth very long at this pace. They have used the bullpen for 15 innings over the last two days.
The other option would be to call up Spencer Howard from Round Rock. His start Saturday continued a month-long stretch of effective Triple-A results. He’s been the most effective of the Triple-A starters. He’s pitched 25 innings over his last five starts, allowing opponents a .193/.287/.318/.605 slash line.
The issue remains command: He has allowed 3.96 walks per nine innings in those starts, which could translate to more walks in the majors, short outings and lots of stress on the bullpen.
They’ve got a lot to figure out about that fifth spot. It would help if they don’t have to figure things out about the fourth spot, too.
