How the Rangers are building up many pitchers this spring to compete for a spot in the starting rotation - The Dallas Morning News

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SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers will build up around 10-12 of their pitchers in camp as they attempt to piece together the most competitive starting rotation possible.

While Texas could have a six-man rotation, who fills out some of those spots is still a competition. And that competition starts in earnest on Sunday with the spring opener at Surprise Stadium.

“Our preparation with all these guys is we’re going to build them up like starters,” said Rangers pitching coach Doug Mathis. “And then they’re going to compete in spring training … and we’re going to see where we’re at with these guys.”

The Sunday starting pitcher is one guy that will be competing for a spot — Wes Benjamin. Others include Jordan Lyles, Kyle Cody, Kolby Allard, Joe Palumbo and others.

The plan is for all the starters to throw one inning in their first outings, and be built up to around six innings and 90 pitches by the end of spring.

“We are going to have options with guys that can start games or pitch starter innings, length-wise,” Mathis said. “There are going to be a lot of options available for us.”

The more solidified starter options — Kyle Gibson, Kohei Arihara, Dane Dunning and Mike Foltynewicz — are all right-handed. The possibility exists that Texas could go out there with a starting rotation full of right-handers once camp breaks.

“I think we’re fine with that. If those are the guys deserving of those spots, I’m fine with that,” manager Chris Woodward said, noting that even if righties like Dunning and Cody make the roster, there are lefties that will come in to spell them because they’re both on innings limits.

The manager declined to say who his opening day starter would be, but he’s indicated previously that Gibson is on track for that opportunity.

The look of spring training will be a little bit different. Starting even on Sunday, The Rangers have seven innings worth of pitchers and the Royals have nine. So after the seven-inning game, it’s possible that Kansas City comes out and plays an inning of baseball pitching against their own hitters.

This spring training, games can be shorter, pitchers can re-enter. It will allow flexibility as Texas builds a somewhat different looking crop of pitchers. What having 12 starter-ready pitchers might mean for the MLB bullpen is still something of a question mark, Mathis said. And that’s by design.

This unconventional spring is going to be what builds an unconventional rotation and bullpen when the season does start.

“I think our bullpen can be constructed in a bunch of different ways,” Mathis said. “We can have guys that can start games, that can pitch longer relief, that can pitch shorter relief. I think we’re going to have guys that wear a couple hats down there in the bullpen.”

Briefly

• • Woodward said moving forward, he likes MLB’s revamped extra innings rule and believes that it’s there to stay. While he expects the seven-inning doubleheaders to eventually be a thing of the past, the runner at second base in the 10th and beyond is the future. “I think everybody in baseball is wasn’t sure about it last year,” Woodward said, “but as they saw it kind of play out it wasn’t it wasn’t as bad as people thought. It actually brought a lot of strategy and a lot of thinking.”
• Woodward spoke highly of Rangers minor leaguer Jason Bahr, a 26-year-old who has pitched as high as Double-A for the Rangers. “He’s throwing harder than he ever has,” the manager said.
• New Rangers relief pitcher Ian Kennedy spoke today about his process of coming to the Rangers. He said he spent the offseason not getting offers, but eventually chose the Rangers over two other teams, including the Royals, where he’d spent the last five seasons. “I love the mentor role. … Whenever I focus on others, my performance in the field will take care of itself. Yeah, you’re going to spring training, you’re trying to earn a job, and I am a non-roster invite — but for me when I focus on other players and dive into trying to help everybody else get better, my performance takes care of itself.”

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