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Rangers' Garcia Activated Ahead of Crucial West Coast Trip
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- Rangers' Garcia Activated Ahead of Crucial West Coast Trip
(IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect)
The Texas Rangers were one of the teams who were able to enjoy Labor Day off, but this team knows more than anyone their work has just begun.
Sitting at 71-73 at this point in the season isn't ideal, but it could also be a lot worse. The playoffs are within reach, it's just a matter of being consistent down the stretch .
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Thankfully, one major reinforcement is on the way. The team officially announced on Monday, Sept. 7, that left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia has been activated from the 60-day Injured List.
In the corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Ben Peoples has been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.
Finally, the Rangers have another credible arm in this bullpen, one that has struggled big time since the start of August.
Rangers bullpen must step up
According to the Dallas Morning News ' Shawn McFarland, the Rangers bullpen has a 6.90 ERA in the fifth, sixth, and seven innings since August 1.
To no surprise, that's the second worst in all of baseball. Garcia should help alleviate some of the pain of their starting pitchers exiting early, but obviously, it's a team effort.
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If the Rangers want to be true contenders , they need their starting pitchers to go deeper than four innings. All of these short starts aren't going to cut it, but now manager Skip Schumaker at least knows there's a much more reliable option to come out of the bullpen.
Garcia, 30, sports a 3.38 ERA this season. The California native has appeared in just nine games, but he made 71 appearances a year ago with a strong 2.95 ERA.
Coming off a career high 0.4 WAR season, Garcia is looking to prove he's one of the missing pieces the Rangers need down the stretch.
Prior to going on the IL, Garcia had made three scoreless appearances. Not only did he not allow a run in those three innings, but he didn't allow a hit either.
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Granted, Garcia hasn't pitched in the majors since April 16, so there will definitely be an adjustment period with him on his way back.
At the end of the day though, it's do-or-die time for this Rangers team. They're hopeful Garcia can pick up where he left off, but either way, he's replacing Peoples in a move that they're hoping doesn't backfire.
Peoples was far from perfect, but the rookie had a strong 2.76 ERA in 16 appearances. Peoples had allowed just three earned runs in his last 11 appearances, so it'll be interesting to see what the long-term plan for him is if Garcia comes back and immediately struggles.
