Rotation leading way for Rangers in April

The starting rotation, even though it included Cole Hamels, wasn’t viewed as the team’s strength for the Texas Rangers entering the season.

The bullpen was going to make the rotation look good, shortening games if the starters could log five or six innings and leave with a lead or with the game still up for grabs.

The offense was going to be fine with most core players returning from the lineup that finished 2015 on a tear and could cover up any of the rotation’s blemishes with piles of hits and runs.

Beyond Hamels, though, there were questions about Derek Holland, Martin Perez, Colby Lewis and especially A.J. Griffin, who as the fill-in for Yu Darvish was potentially going to be skipped every time an off day allowed it.

But after the first 22 games, the last thing a Rangers fan or the Rangers themselves are worrying about is the starting rotation. On their off day Thursday and ahead of a three-game weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels, the Rangers’ rotation has been the team’s No. 1 strength in posting a 12-10 record.

It’s not that collectively the starters are doing one thing that is setting them apart, like pitching inside or ditching their two-seam fastballs for four-seamers.

No one pitcher is the same, and each gets his outs in his own unique way. But the one thing they do as one is compete with each other and motivate and help each other to be better each time out.

“I think that the big thing is how we feed off each other,” said Holland, who is scheduled to pitch Saturday. “We pick each other up. We’re watching constantly what each guy is doing and helping if we see a situation come about.

“The other thing, too, is not only are we feeding off each other, we’re competing. If Griff goes out and pitches like he did [Tuesday] night, now Martin is going to try to top that.”

Within their drive to top what the previous starter did, the Rangers starters have logged five innings in every game. Only one other team in the majors, the Chicago Cubs, has seen its starters do that.

The Rangers have 16 quality starts, which entering Thursday rated second in the American League to the Chicago White Sox. The starters’ 3.25 ERA was also second to the White Sox (2.65).

“We know the offense is going to score runs. We know the defense is going to be right behind us. We don’t have to second-guess certain pitches,” Hamels said. “We’re just going at it fully committing. When you’re fully committed, you’re able to either a) get a good result or b) move on quickly so you can get the next guy.”

Walks allowed (54) and home runs allowed (19) were both the most of any AL rotation, but Rangers starters led the major leagues in double plays (22).

OK, maybe they are doing one thing collectively well that is playing a huge part in their success — making a pitch whenever they need it, like when they need a double play.

How they get them, though, isn’t the same. Holland uses his off-speed pitches to get batters to put the ball on the ground. Perez uses a sinker that everyone knows is coming and has produced a baseball-leading 11 double plays.

“He gets a double play every inning it seems,” Holland said. “He’s a sinker-ball pitcher. Every guy does something different.”

The numbers say that Hamels and Griffin have been the best; each is 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in 25 innings apiece. Hamels (23) has six more strikeouts, but Griffin’s opponents batting average (.189) is 36 points better.

Lewis, the club leader last season in wins, innings and starts, is doing what he has always done. He takes the ball and finds a way to keep the Rangers in the game.

Holland claims to be the weak link, though his numbers (2-1, 3.13 ERA, .212 opponents average) have been solid to start the final guaranteed year on is contract. Perez won a start for the first time this season Wednesday, and his 4.20 ERA is the highest among the rotation members.

Four of his five starts, though, have registered as quality starts.

If that’s the worst, the Rangers’ rotation is looking awfully good. It’s supposed to get better once Darvish returns. And the one thing all five current starters believe is that the internal competition is making more of a difference in their success than anything else.

“I think we have a good group of guys,” Hamels said. “We’ve been very competitive with each other and keeping each other focused and making sure we’re prepared for the team. It’s just execution. Guys are really enjoying what we’re going on and off the field.”

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Rotation leading way for Rangers in April."