Griffin still on right track for Rangers after nine-strikeout game

Nine-strikeout games aren’t commonplace for A.J. Griffin, and the one he collected Monday at Toronto wasn’t the first of his career.

But he’s never been able to get to double digits.

“Everyone wants 10,” he said Friday at Comerica Park, ahead of his scheduled start Saturday.

But nine punchouts for a pitcher who attacks the strike zone and dares opponents to put the ball in play tell Griffin that he continues to progress on the right track in his comeback season.

“It means that I’m mixing my pitches and commanding them well,” the right-hander said. “When you start seeing strikeouts looking, that means I’m really mixing it up well.”

Griffin is 3-0 with a team-leading 2.32 ERA after five starts, his first five starts since 2013. The performance rates as unexpected as the club’s No. 5 starter, but Griffin isn’t trying to put it into context.

“I’m just focused on what I’m doing,” he said. “I try not to get caught up in anything. It just try to show up and help my guys.”

Ranaudo up

The Rangers needed a bullpen arm that could provide some length, so Anthony Ranaudo was recalled from Triple A Round Rock and fellow righty Phil Klein was optioned.

Ranaudo had been scheduled to pitch Friday in relief in Round Rock after Yu Darvish finished his second rehab start, so his arm was fresh. Ranaudo also was feeling no ill effects from a minor groin injury that put him on the disabled list.

The biggest thing is that the adjustments he started making to his delivery during spring training are now second nature. The results — 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 13  1/3 innings — suggest as much.

“The hard part was finding what was going to work for me and what wasn’t going to work for me, especially with everything thrown at me so quickly,” Ranaudo said. “I’m in a really good place physically and mentally right now.”

Cesar Ramos, who worked 4  1/3 innings Thursday, likely won’t be available until Sunday. Ranaudo was the choice because he can work multiple innings.

Luke Jackson is still not quite back where the Rangers want him after a spring back injury, and fellow righty Matt Bush still isn’t considered an option despite eye-popping velocity readings and quality results at Double A Frisco.

Insider trading

The Rangers’ catchers this series are Bobby Wilson and Bryan Holaday, both former Tigers catchers who were traded for one another March 29.

Holaday was drafted by Tigers and played parts of the past four seasons with them. He said that his first trip back to Comerica Park will give him a chance to see his former teammates, and maybe visit some of his favorite Detroit restaurants. Otherwise, it was nothing special.

Wilson was with the Tigers for 20 games earlier this season after getting promoted from Triple A Toledo.

He got the chance to catch Jordan Zimmermann, the Tigers starter Friday after being the American League Pitcher of the Month for April.

The Rangers might get a few tips from their catchers they ordinarily might not get.

“I’m sure they have some knowledge that will be passed along,” manager Jeff Banister said.

Choo plan

Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo (strained calf) continues to progress toward a rehab assignment, but first will be a four-day stay at extending spring training in Arizona.

He said he could be there as soon as Monday.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Griffin still on right track for Rangers after nine-strikeout game."