The Texas Rangers will get a huge boost to their rotation this week, as star pitcher Yu Darvish returns from the DL to start on Saturday.
At the 2016 MLB All-Star break, the Texas Rangers are 54-36 and have the best record in the American League by 3.5 games over the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians. Texas holds a 5.5 game lead over the in-state rival Houston Astros, and is about to get a huge boost to their starting rotation this weekend.
According to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale, “Rangers starter Yu Darvish will return from the DL and make his first start Saturday” when Texas takes on the Chicago Cubs.
Darvish was a three-time American League All-Star for the Rangers his first three years in the league (2012-14), but arm troubles have limited the former Rangers’ ace to only 15.2 innings pitched the last two seasons.
Interestingly, Texas managed to win the 2015 AL West title without Darvish appearing in any games after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early spring 2015.
While elbow discomfort continues to be an issue for Darvish, shoulder problems have limited him to only three starts this season.
Darvish made his only three starts this season on May 28 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, June 3 against the Seattle Mariners, and June 8 versus Houston. Despite only appearing in three MLB regular season games the last two years, Darvish has managed to keep his ERA and WHIP relatively low at 2.87 and 1.149, respectively.
When healthy, Darvish is one of the best pitchers in the AL and more than capable of carrying the Rangers’ staff. Will his return be that extra boost Texas needs to get back to the World Series for the first time since 2011?
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