Dunning Making Case to Remain Texas Rangers Starter When deGrom Returns

Texas Rangers fill-in starter Dane Dunning is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA since taking Jacob deGrom's spot in the rotation.

ARLINGTON, Texas – At some point, Jacob deGrom is coming back.

Maybe, at that point, the Texas Rangers consider a six-man rotation. Or maybe something more drastic happens.

Whatever the case, Dane Dunning is making a pretty strong case to remain a starter even with the eventual return of the club’s ace.

Decisions will be made.

“I am looking forward to it,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “They say it’s a nice problem, but we’re a little ways from figuring out what we’re going to do then. Dane just has so much value wherever you put him – starting or relieving. Good for him because he’s been relentless since Spring Training.”

The bespectacled right-hander turned in his second consecutive quality start Tuesday night in the Rangers’ 7-4 victory over the potent Atlanta Braves. Dunning tossed six innings and allowed just one run, striking out four and not walking a batter.

“Another great job by Dane,” Bochy said. “He looked strong early, his stuff was actually up a little bit. He just got better with the command and everything, the movement. He just did another tremendous job. That’s a tough lineup to navigate through, and he was seeing them again and making even better pitches. Since he’s stepped in the rotation, he has just been unbelievable.”

That followed up a six-inning, two-run stint at the Seattle Mariners. Dunning, 28, has gone 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA, fanning 12 and walking two in 17 innings, in three starts since deGrom went on the injured list.

Dunning has yet to give up a home run this season, and of the 26 hits he’s allowed in 37 1/3 innings, only six have gone for extra bases. He’s not overpowering in a deGrom way, but sure has been effective for the Rangers.

“Really it’s just been about getting back in the groove of the starting routine,” said Dunning, a starter last season. “Got kind of used to being in that bullpen and it’s a totally different process leading into it.”

The rebuilt Rangers rotation this season moved Dunning into a long-relief role. But now that he’s starting, and considering the results, is there a reason to go back to the ‘pen when deGrom returns?

Dunning was asked if he feels like just a fill-in starter.

“I’m just trying to be the best Swiss Army knife that I can,” he said. “I told them from really the end of last year to this year, whatever role they want me to do, I’m just trying to fill that spot and do the best that I can.”

The Rangers still don’t have a public timetable for the return of deGrom, who threw off the mound Tuesday for the first time since going on the IL.

Again, hard decisions will be made. Dunning has done his part to put the Rangers in win-win.

“I can’t tell you what’s going to happen,” Bochy said. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

The Rangers (26-16) and Braves (26-16) close out a three-game series with the rubber match Wednesday night. Nathan Eovaldi (5-2, 2.70) goes for Texas, with Spencer Strider (4-1, 2.51) on the bump for Atlanta. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Globe Life Field.

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