Ranaudo’s solid start keeps him in Rangers’ rotation hunt

Nick Martinez appeared to lock up the final spot in the Texas Rangers’ starting rotation Thursday night, tossing six scoreless innings to continue a nearly flawless Cactus League campaign.

The performance, against Colorado, was even shown live in Dallas-Fort Worth for all the non-NCAA Tournament viewers and insomniacs to see.

Not shown on the local airwaves was the Friday performance of Anthony Ranaudo, who filled up the strike zone and at one point retired 13 of 15 batters while taking a no-decision in the Rangers’ 7-6 loss to Oakland.

He’s not done auditioning for the rotation yet.

“When it’s all said and done, I think we’re going to have a really good fifth starter,” Ranaudo said.

Ranaudo allowed two runs on five hits in six innings, throwing 81 pitches, striking out three and walking none in what rates as his best performance of the spring.

He also knows that where he ends up isn’t up to him. He wants to be in the majors, and is willing to fill any role on the Rangers’ pitching staff.

Both a starting gig and the long-relief role seem unlikely in light of Martinez’s strong spring and the need for rotation depth, though manager Jeff Banister said that a pitcher who misses out on the rotation could be the long man.

He consistently was ahead of hitters. He built up his pitch count. He took things he had worked on between starts and applied them.

He looked like he could be in the Rangers’ rotation, albeit for the first time this spring. The body of work means something.

So does having rotation depth, which the Rangers badly lacked last season. Nick Tepesch is still kicking in the rotation battle but not as strongly as had been expected. Lisalverto Bonilla hasn’t officially been eliminated either.

That duo plus Ranaudo would make for three quality fill-ins when an injury arises. Alex Gonzalez is a fourth.

Ranaudo has also never pitched in relief, aside from a 2013 appearance in the minors with Boston as he piggybacked a rehabbing Clay Buchholz. Bonilla was a reliever until deep into last season.

“You probably need some flexibility also in that long role,” Banister said.

He wasn’t just talking about an ability to make an occasional spot start, or mop up in a blowout, or save the bullpen with a five-inning relief appearance. Each of the pitchers still in the hunt can be optioned to the minor leagues, a contractual advantage for the Rangers if they need a fresh arm.

Ross Ohlendorf and Jamey Wright, meanwhile, can’t be optioned. Jon Edwards can be, and the manager spoke highly of him.

Any of those three could be the long man. Ohlendorf, though, is shelved by a groin issue that flared up again Thursday. His availability for Opening Day is in question, as is what to do with him when he’s well.

“Ohlendorf is definitely a challenge,” Banister said. “A healthy Ohlendorf … he can go out and give you multiple innings and if you’re up five runs in the ninth, you’re real comfortable throwing that out there, too.”

Martinez and Ranaudo will make one more start before leaving Arizona. Ultimately, the choice appears clear.

Martinez has been that good since his first outing. Ranaudo, while trending upward, still has wrinkles that need be ironed, and the Rangers can’t be caught short at Triple A again.

But Ranaudo didn’t eliminate himself Thursday.

“All in all, I thought it was a good day for Ranaudo,” Banister said. “We’re going to let these guys to continue to pitch, and I don’t think it’s necessary to make any judgments today.”

This story was originally published March 27, 2015 at 8:15 PM with the headline "Ranaudo’s solid start keeps him in Rangers’ rotation hunt."