Texas Rangers first half report card
Closers
There’s really no way to sugar-coat this. The closer situation for the 2017 Texas Rangers has been flat-out abysmal.
It all started in the opening series with Sam Dyson and his woes. It continued on after Tony Barnette took over the gig. Like Dyson he logged four blown saves in four save opportunities. Kela and Leclerc each have had two chances and each has a save to show for it. That’s more than we can say for either Dyson or Barnette, so at least that’s something. But then enter Matt Bush.
Bush is in a unique situation. He started as part of the fantastic middle relief crew that succeeded last year. While not closing, he’s been pretty solid this year. Yet it seems like some mystical, evil force takes hold on Texas Rangers pitchers when they take the mound with a save on the line.
Once they toe that rubber with a late lead, all of Hades seems to break loose and they can’t get anyone out. Granted, Bush does have 10 saves in 15 opportunities, but he’s certainly not quite the same guy closing as he has been as a setup man.
As a unit altogether, the Rangers pitching staff has saved just 43% of their save opportunities. This is the biggest glaring problem with the Texas roster and the biggest need as the trade deadline approaches.
If a solid ninth inning guy becomes available on the market in the coming weeks, GM Jon Daniels would have to be insane to not at least consider him. In any case, there’s nowhere to go but up for the closers.