Rangers coping with no lefty relievers

Texas Rangers seneral manager Jon Daniels said that there has been no movement toward acquiring left-handed relief help, even though the lack of a bullpen lefty became evident on Opening Day.

Though they were being no-hit in the seventh inning, the Rangers were within reach when right-hander Phil Klein faced Stephen Vogt, a left-handed hitter, with two outs and two on in a 4-0 game.

Vogt put the game out of reach with a three-run homer.

Daniels and manager Jeff Banister, though, weren’t knee-jerking Tuesday or lamenting the lack of a lefty reliever.

“I can’t love to have what I don’t have,” Banister said. “It’s Game 1. We go into the game with the 25 players we have.”

The Rangers’ best reliever against left-handers is Shawn Tolleson, whose changeup helped him hold lefties to a .214 batting average last season. Banister said that Roman Mendez can be effective, and Daniels pointed to Keone Kela.

Until Tanner Scheppers returns, though, Tolleson will be needed as a key setup reliever. Mendez and Kela are still learning, and the coaching staff is still searching for what all the young relievers can do.

“With their overall experience level, in all these situations it’s still a learning process,” Banister said. “We’re going to do our best with what we do have and help them grow in those areas.”

The Rangers have four lefty relievers at Triple A Round Rock: Alex Claudio, who missed the Opening Day roster; Martire Garcia, who was in big-league camp; and career minor leaguers Jimmy Reyes and Edwar Cabrera.

Birthday for Beltre

Third baseman Adrian Beltre turned 36 on Tuesday, and the highlight of the day, before the lowlight of having to go to O.co Coliseum, was a “nice lunch” with his family.

Beltre was asked if he ever thinks, as he starts the downhill ride to 40, if the end of his career is near. He is under contract through 2016, but hasn’t thought beyond that.

“I can’t do that,” Beltre said. “I go day by day and year by year. I don’t think age is a problem.

“If you take care of yourself and your body is ready to take what comes along in the year, you’ll be good.”

Beltre is the oldest player on the youngest 25-man roster in the majors. The Rangers have an average age of 27 years, 337 days.

Detwiler ready

Left-hander Ross Detwiler will make his first start since July 3, 2013, on Wednesday, and he was, understandably, pumped up.

“I’m pretty excited. I can’t wait to get back out there,” said Detwiler, who was acquired from Washington in December.

He’s also curious to see how his off-speed pitches play after not using them as often while a reliever last season. While that was an adjustment he had to make in spring training, he also had to get back on a starter’s schedule.

“I feel like I got my routine down again,” said Detwiler, who is 17-29 with a 4.02 ERA in his career as a starter. “That’s the biggest thing for a starter.”

Tepesch injured

Right-hander Nick Tepesch will not throw for three weeks after being diagnosed with ulnar nerve inflammation, a similar injury to the one that knocked him out in 2013.

With Tepesch on the Triple A disabled list, Ross Wolf will join a Round Rock rotation that includes left-hander Wandy Rodriguez and fellow righties Anthony Ranaudo, Alex Gonzalez and Luke Jackson.

This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 10:12 PM with the headline "Rangers coping with no lefty relievers."