The Texas Rangers continue to struggle in New York. After another 12-4 loss on Wednesday night, they have now dropped six of their eight games against the Yankees this season.
After Alexi Ogando gave up six runs through 1.2 innings on Tuesday, Derek Holland wasn’t much better. The young right-hander gave up six runs on seven hits, walked five and gave up two home runs through five innings of work.
Holland struggled right off the bat (no pun intended) and was unable to gain any control of his pitches.
After Holland departed, reliever Mark Lowe would take over and would have just about as much success as Holland had. Lowe gave up three runs through just an inning of work, both coming on home runs including a two-run shot from Mark Teixeira, his second of two home runs on the day.
Combined between Ogando and Holland, Rangers starters have given up 12 runs through just 6.2 innings of work over the last two nights.
Taylor Teagarden, who was called up from triple-A Round Rock after Mike Napoli went on the disabled list, is apparently being looked at by the San Francisco Giants according to Danny Knobler of CBS.com.
Since the Giants lost Buster Posey for the season, Eli Whiteside and Chris Stewart have combined for a .180 batting average with no home runs and just two runs batted in through 19 games.
Knobler didn’t know if the two sides have had any trade talks but did confirm the Giants’ interest.
Another trade partner, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, could be the Baltimore Orioles. Sullivan, in his mailbag column, talked about Chris Davis being someone Baltimore would look at with its need at first base. Two names Sullivan mentioned coming back to Texas were relievers Jim Johnson or Koji Uehara.
However, if I’m Texas, there’s only one guy I’m looking at and it’s 32-year old right hander Jeremy Guthrie. Don’t be fooled by his record this season (2-8) but focus more on the 3.77 ERA. He plays for a bad Orioles team and coming to Texas could provide the spark he and this pitching staff needs.
Sullivan also mentioned the Rangers being willing to trade anyone if the right deal were to come along. He said the Rangers would put Nelson Cruz on the first plane to Seattle if it meant Felix Hernandez was coming back in the deal.
That kind of deal isn’t going to happen, but you get the point he’s making.
