Texas Rangers: Relief for the Relievers
By Reid Hanson
The Texas Rangers bullpen has unexpectedly struggled this season. The good news is relief is in sight.
The Texas Rangers bullpen was supposed to be their strength heading into the 2016 season, but so far, it has been anything but. The Texas Rangers bullpen has struggled this season despite being relatively “loaded” with proven personnel.
Sam Dyson, Jake Diekman, Shawn Tolleson, Tom Wilhelmsen, and Andrew Faulkner were expected to be the backbone of the Texas Rangers bullpen. But instead of dominating the opposition like expected, the Texas Rangers bullpen’s 5.35 ERA ranks them second to last in MLB.
The bullpen, which was largely responsible for the Rangers late season push to the playoffs in 2015, is suddenly no longer an asset. It’s a liability. It has often squandered solid starting pitching performances and relied on the resilient Rangers offense to keep them alive late in games.
The Texas Rangers desperately need to fix their bullpen issues sooner rather than later, or they may be in for a heartbreaking autumn. Lucky for the Texas Rangers, relief for the relievers is here.
Two major pieces can and will save the Rangers this summer: Matt Bush and Keone Kela.
Bush and Kela are more than just fresh arms. They are high ceiling players on the rise with absolutely electric stuff.
Matt Bush made his well-publicized debut with the Rangers a few weeks ago. Since then, he has made quite an impression on the team. In 7.2 innings of work, Matt Bush has posted an impressive 1.17 ERA all while facing some of MLB’s best hitters.
What’s even better is the rookie 30-year old appears to have only scratched the surface of his potential. As odd as that is to say about someone his age, it’s true.
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With less than a year under his belt, Matt Bush is still learning to pitch. By now everyone knows his amazing story so I’ll spare the details. What’s relevant in his story is the strength of mind it has taken him to get to where he is today. Whether you have sympathy or not for Matt Bush, you have to be impressed.
Sam Dyson will likely hold down the everyday closer duties but going forward, Matt Bush looks like a prime candidate for a role of situational closer.
Keone Kela is another arm who can provide significant relief down the stretch. Kela, 23, is a player on the rise for the Texas Rangers. The young righty is expected to be the closer in the not-so-distant future and frequently offers fastballs in the 95 mph range.
Kela has been out the majority of the 2016 season while recovering from surgery that removed a spur but he’s on pace to return by the end of July and will likely provide some more much needed relief for the relievers.
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The bullpen isn’t exactly shaking out as planned. Wilhelmsen bombed and Tolleson, after being removed as the closer two weeks ago, is now on leave from the team dealing with family medical issues. But Matt Bush and Keone Kela could help fix it all and solidify the Texas Rangers’ weakest unit by the end of summer.