CHICAGO -- Alexi Ogando was able to overcome his struggles with fastball command by leaning on his other pitches in his first three starts of the season. However, in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs, nothing seemed to be working for the Rangers righty.
HOUSTON -- There wasn't a day-after celebration of Yu Darvish's near-miss perfect game Wednesday afternoon. Just more strikeouts -- a lot of them -- for Rangers pitchers. Five Rangers took the ball against Houston and all of them drew off of Darvish's spectacular effort Tuesday night, adding to a record-breaking strikeout haul in the first three games of the season.
HOUSTON -- Yu Darvish will stay with his normal routine after flirting with a perfect game and start Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, manager Ron Washington said before Wednesday's series finale against the Houston Astros.
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Manager Ron Washington has been careful when discussing the performance of his rookie right-hander Nick Tepesch. The 24-year-old is in his first spring training camp as a non-roster invitee, and Washington admitted he didn't know much about him when camp began.
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Cory Burns knows every time he toes the rubber – whether it’s a bullpen session, throwing to live hitters on the back fields or in a Cactus League game – someone who could determine his future in the Rangers’ bullpen is watching.
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alexi Ogando, who will start for one of the intrasquad teams today and pitch one inning, is happy with how his changeup has progressed so far this spring. He'll get an even better idea when he faces hitters in a game.
PHOENIX -- When Joe Torre called Greg Maddux to ask him to be the pitching coach for Team USA, Greg was convinced that Torre had the wrong number. "He thought I called the wrong Maddux," Torre said. Greg Maddux's brother, Mike, is the pitching coach for the Texas Rangers.
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Left-handed pitcher Robbie Ross could feel a presence behind him as he fired pitches to hitters from a mound tucked away on the far side of the Texas Rangers' spring training complex.
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Texas Rangers reliever Michael Kirkman may be out of minor league options, but he could give the club more options if he can seize a bullpen spot as expected. Kirkman, 26, is the favorite to claim a left-handed job in the bullpen.
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- A look at six things that went on in Surprise today, in case you missed it. 1. Derek Holland is taking on a more serious tone this season. That's not to say he still won't do impersonations (he did one of Tim Kurkjian today), but he's focused more on what he has to do on and off the field.
MORE MLB COVERAGE
