Rangers notes: Bullpen rested, recharged for opener against Blue Jays

Perhaps the most important benefit of the Rangers winning the American League West title on Sunday, which prevented a potential tiebreaker game with the Houston Astros and kept them out of the wild-card round, was giving the team four days between games.

They all needed a break, especially after the champagne and beer-infused clincher celebration Sunday evening. But no part of the team needed a breather more than the bullpen.

“My body feels recharged,” said setup man Sam Dyson, who like closer Shawn Tolleson, worked five consecutive games leading to Sunday’s clincher. “I’ve been battling this little bug that’s been going around but other than that ...”

Jake Diekman wasn’t as overworked as the others, but since coming over in the Cole Hamels trade with the Phillies on July 31, Diekman has made 26 appearances with 21  2/3 innings pitched.

Diekman and Dyson, who joined the club in a deal with the Marlins at the trade deadline, have helped turn the bullpen from a liability to a strength. Texas had the worst bullpen ERA (4.64) at the end of July. Since adding Dyson and Diekman, however, the bullpen ERA dropped to 3.01 the last two months of the season. In September, it led the league with a 2.05 ERA and a .197 opponent batting average.

“It’s been all the difference in the world getting those guys here,” said Tolleson, who has 35 saves in his first season as a closer. “They’ve done an unbelievable job just setting up and throwing those seventh and eighth innings. Just the workload they’ve handled has been huge.”

Diekman and Dyson didn’t take long to assimilate in the Rangers’ clubhouse, Tolleson said.

“It’s like they were here all season,” he said. “Their personalities fit in great with everybody. They joke around with everybody and give everybody a hard time just like we’ve been brothers forever. So that was a really easy transition.”

The rest also has benefited Tolleson, who allowed six of his 24 earned runs this season in his last 13 appearances, all since Sept. 1.

“Everyone was feeling really really good [at Tuesday’s workout],” he said. “Just those couple days off and the excitement of the postseason.”

Rangers moves

Texas brought 30 players to Toronto. So that leaves eight who were on the roster at season’s end. Right-handers Luke Jackson and Nick Martinez, infielder Joey Gallo and outfielders Leonys Martin and Ryan Strausborger were sent to Arizona where they’ll play in Instructional League games.

Also, Triple A Round Rock infielder Ed Lucas and outfielder Ryan Rua reported to Arizona on Wednesday. Rua is playing with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. Right-hander Spencer Patton, who the Rangers called up from Round Rock for bullpen help in the Sunday finale, returned home to Illinois.

Texas must submit its 25-man roster for the ALDS by 9 a.m. Thursday.

Scheppers’ stitches

Right-hander Tanner Scheppers, who needed five stitches to close a cut on his right index finger on Sunday, stayed in Arlington.

Young Rangers

The Rangers are the first AL postseason club to have two players 22 or younger (as of June 30) make 100 or more starts since the 1926 Yankees. Rougned Odor made 113 starts and Delino DeShields made 110.

Texas is only the eighth postseason club in major league history to do it.

Faulkner’s family

Rookie relief pitcher Andrew Faulkner, who is from Aiken, S.C., said his family, including two brothers and his parents, are all OK following the devastating floods from Hurricane Joaquin.

Masked man

Odor’s “old man” mask, which he’s worn repeatedly while making cameos in teammate interviews the past month, made the trip to Toronto and was hanging in his locker. It’s something of a good-luck charm. “I keep it with me everywhere,” he said.

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Rangers notes: Bullpen rested, recharged for opener against Blue Jays."