Despite lack of wins, Rangers say Darvish is on right track

There’s nothing wrong with Yu Darvish’s approach, manager Jeff Banister said.

The right-hander, who starts Sunday’s finale against the Astros, hasn’t won a game since June 3. The Rangers have lost his past five starts despite Darvish allowing just 10 runs in 27 2/3 innings.

He threw a season-high 94 pitches in his last start when he allowed three runs on six hits and one walk over a season-high 6 1/3 innings. He has 26 strikeouts combined in his past three starts, including nine on Tuesday. He’s allowed five homers in the span, including three solo shots against the Orioles on Tuesday.

“I’m satisfied with his approach. He’s been nicked with the long ball a little bit but the overall approach I’m really satisfied with,” Banister said. “Sometimes the hitters don’t always play along if they’re not pushing the ball forward on you.”

Banister is fine with the strikeouts (which can increase the pitch count) as long as Darvish is getting ahead of hitters. And Darvish is getting ahead. Since walking four on July 16, he’s only walked two batters in his past three starts.

“[If you] get two strikes on them, wipe them out,” Banister said. “I don’t see him falling behind a lot of hitters. If that were the case, there would be a point of concern.”

Darvish said he’s cautious about pushing his pitch limit, which Banister said could increase to 105-110, depending on the situation.

“I want to go as long as I can but at the same time I know I’m coming back from Tommy John surgery,” Darvish said. “[I could throw] 110-120 if I’m pushing it. But it doesn’t make sense to me. I feel like I want to go more, that’s for sure.”

Banister cautioned that the Rangers will continue to keep a conservative approach with Darvish the rest of the season.

“We’re still within that build-up window of protection,” Banister said.

Holland happy

Derek Holland felt good the day after making his first rehab start with Triple A Round Rock on Friday night.

He threw 48 pitches, 28 in two innings and a 20-pitch bullpen session after coming out of the game.

He’ll rejoin Round Rock and make his second start Wednesday. He’s expected to go three innings and about 45 pitches and then throw a 20-pitch bullpen session.

“That was a very good first time out,” said Holland, whose fastball was between 90-92 mph, according to Banister. “Pitch sequence was right, execution was good. I’m very happy with how it went for a first start. It can only get better from there.”

Holland is preparing to be ready Aug. 20, the first day he’s eligible to come off the disabled list.

“Whatever it takes to get me up to that, that’s up to them to decide,” he said. “I just need to make sure that they see I’m ready to go.”

Holland said he’s altered his arm slot back to where it was in September 2014 when he returned from the DL to make five strong starts. He’s getting his throwing forearm a little further away from his head to create more angle, Banister said.

“That’s what we’re trying to get back to. I’ve created a bad habit of getting a little too high up,” he said. “I don’t know where it came from but we’ve taken care of the situation.”

Profar off again

Jurickson Profar was not in the lineup for the third consecutive night. Banister said he was trying to let Profar freshen up a bit and expected he’d be in Sunday’s lineup.

This story was originally published August 6, 2016 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Despite lack of wins, Rangers say Darvish is on right track."