When the visiting Texas Rangers meet the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday afternoon, one pitcher will be trending up.
The other is still stuck in the mud.
Texas Rangers rookie right-hander Kumar Rocker (2-4, 7.31 ERA) will be the one looking to build off a victory in the second game of a three-game set.
Rocker, chosen by the Rangers No. 3 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, struggled during his first five starts this season, going 1-3 with an 8.10 ERA, allowing 19 runs (18 earned) in 20 innings.
His ERA ballooned to 8.87 after he came off the injured list (shoulder) and endured another forgettable outing against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 4 in which he allowed five runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings in a 5-4 loss.
But injuries to the Rangers’ rotation have piled up in recent weeks. When Tyler Mahle landed on the injured list, Texas gave Rocker another chance, against the Chicago White Sox last Sunday.
Rocker delivered the first scoreless outing of his career as he tossed five shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out six.
The start included Rocker drinking five bottles of pickle juice as he battled cramps in the fifth inning. Rocker will face the Pirates for the first time.
“Kumar had good stuff, but the cramping thing, he just couldn’t get rid of it,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said after the start. “I think he broke the record on how much pickle juice you can drink.
“I just thought he really was under control (Sunday) and calm out there. He’s determined. When he’s throwing strikes with the weapons that he has, he’s going to be tough. He made pitches when he had to. It was a really nice bounce back.”
While Rocker picked up his first win since April 6, Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller (1-9, 4.08 ERA) has been waiting even longer. His lone win of the season came on the opening weekend, a 4-3 victory on March 28 against the Miami Marlins.
Keller’s start Saturday will be his 16th of the season. Over his past 14 starts, he has delivered 10 quality starts but has suffered nine consecutive losing decisions. Pittsburgh is 2-12 in those games.
His two most recent starts, against the Marlins at home on June 10 and against the Cubs in Chicago on Sunday, both ended with 3-2 losses. Those games exemplify just how frustrating a season it has been for the 29-year-old Keller, who was an All-Star in 2023.
“That’s why I try not to look too much into it,” Keller said recently. “I feel like I’m throwing the ball well. I feel healthy and I feel like my stuff’s coming out, I feel like it’s getting better as the year goes on, so that’s always a positive.”
Keller did not factor in the decision against the Cubs after allowing two runs in six innings, and took the loss after giving up three runs in six innings against the Marlins.
Keller is 1-0 in his only career game against the Rangers, which was last Aug. 20. He threw seven shutout innings and allowed three hits and no walks while striking out nine in a 4-0 Pittsburgh win.
Pirates reliever Dennis Santana was suspended Friday for four games and received an undisclosed fine for his aggressive conduct toward a fan near the bullpen during the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader in Detroit.
Santana, who was in the bullpen, and the fan, who was in the bleachers, exchanged words with security nearby. Santana leaped in an attempt to reach the fan, but a Pirates coach and player separated Santana and the fan.
Santana is appealing the suspension and remains available during the appeals process.
–Field Level Media
