Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Texas Rangers are no strangers this year to pitchers being on the disabled list. Colby Lewis has missed the entire year due to injury and Matt Harrison was placed on the DL after two starts. Yu Darvish spent a little time there as well. Ron Washington has done an amazing job this season at piecing together a pitching staff for the most part.
On Tuesday, the Rangers placed starting pitcher Alexi Ogando on the 15-day DL for the third time this year. With the way the Rangers are playing right now and with the current pitching staff assembled, the Rangers should look at shutting Ogando down for the rest of the season like they did Harrison and Lewis. Obviously there is something not right with him or he would be pitching. At the very least, they should look at making him a bullpen pitcher and nothing more.
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Currently, the Rangers have Darvish, Derek Holland and Matt Garza playing unbelievable baseball. Martin Perez has also been pitching beautifully for the Rangers lately. As shown on Tuesday night against the Houston Astros, the Rangers can put together a fifth starter with the bullpen helping as well.
Newly acquired Travis Blackley started the game and went four innings while allowing two runs to score. The bullpen came in and pitched the final five innings and did not allow a run on only three hits. If the Rangers can continue to get production like this, sitting Ogando for the rest of year will only help both Ogando and the Rangers down the road.
Greg Higgins is a MLB contributor for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @greghiggins457
