Dane Dunning Brings 'More Value' to Texas Rangers Rotation

Replacement starter Dane Dunning is now fourth in the American League in ERA.

© Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers could have Nathan Eovaldi start the All-Star Game.

A pair of veterans – Martín Pérez and Jon Gray – have been the wars, with each owning winning records for the American League West leaders.

And then there’s Dane Dunning, who’s moved from the bullpen and has the best ERA in the starting rotation, along with a sparkling 8-1 record. The replacement for Jacob deGrom is much more than just a fill-in.

“I can’t think of a pitcher that has brought more value,” Bochy said, according to MLB.com. “When you look at what he did in the ‘pen and of course with Jacob he gets inserted into the rotation and here he is fourth in the league in ERA.

“He’s just a complete pitcher, moves the ball around, changes speeds, keeps the ball on the ground a lot, he’s got good poise out there. I don’t know what else we say, I’m kind of out of superlatives to give this kid. That’s how good he’s been.”

Dunning went six solid innings in Tuesday’s 6-2 win at the Boston Red Sox to open a six-game road trip heading into the All-Star break. The Rangers arrived in Beantown losing three out of four to the rival Houston Astros, including a 12-11 setback Monday after leading in the ninth.

Dunning didn’t approach his start feeling like he had to get the Rangers back on track.

“I didn’t even think about that loss,” he said. “I try to put all the games behind me and focus on what’s next. I was just trying to get the ball rolling from the get-go. The leadoff triple (to Jarren Duran) doesn’t help, but I was able to settle in after that.”

Duran scored the only run allowed by Dunning, who saw his ERA drop to 2.61, which is fourth in the AL. Eovaldi is fifth at 2.64.

“I didn’t even know,” Dunning said of his place among the league leaders. “That’s really cool.”

Dunning credited his teammates for being there for him all season to talk to and bounce ideas off of, adding that Eovaldi has been “phenomenal” in that department. Dunning admitted that not being a starter coming out of Spring Training was hard to take at first and he hated seeing deGrom go down.

Now, Dunning is taking the ball every fifth day and bringing value.

“Just trying to be needed as much as a I can and help the team as much as I can,” he said.

The three-game series Boston continues Wednesday with Gray (6-4, 3.21) going for Texas opposite Brayan Bello (5-5, 3.08). First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. CT at Fenway Park.

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