Texas Rangers Trade for Jacob deGrom Replacement Looks Unnecessary

Nathan Eovaldi and Dane Dunning have stepped up in making up for the Jacob deGrom loss in the Texas Rangers rotation.

© Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers will undoubtedly continue to look for pitching up to the trade deadline.

Whether that’s a starter to replace Jacob deGrom or bullpen help, the quest for arms will keep general manager Chris Young busy.

But should the Rangers stand pat, especially in the rotation, is there enough to make what’s been a special season so far end up with hardware?

The Rangers appear to have a bona fide ace in Nathan Eovaldi who’s taken the role meant for deGrom. Eovaldi, an early Cy Young candidate, is starting Sunday’s series finale at the New York Yankees after a minor adjustment to the rotation.

As for the guy who actually replaced deGrom in the rotation, well, Dane Dunning doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon. In fact, he’s taking a stronger grip on his spot with every start.

Dunning logged his longest outing out the season in Friday’s 4-2 series-opening win over the Yankees, getting into the eighth inning. He officially finished with seven innings, giving up just two runs on five hits and lowering his season ERA to 2.76.

Dunning hadn’t pitched more than six innings in any start this season, doing so three times. The right-hander did get into some trouble in the eighth with Texas up 2-1, allowing back-to-back hits to open the inning, including Billy McKinney’s single to right that put runners on the corners.

Bruce Bochy went to the bullpen at that point, but the veteran manager was impressed by Dunning’s outing. Bochy was asked if Dunning has earned a longer runway to go deeper in games.

“You go as they go,” Bochy said. “He was pitching so well, throwing a lot of strikes. Pitch count was in a really good area. He just made a mistake on that one curveball that went for a hit down the line, but overall it’s hard to pitch better than what he did, especially here. It’s pretty intense out there.”

Dunning’s 87 pitches weren’t a season high – instead it was his lowest total in the last seven starts. That efficiency should make longer starts more common going forward.

“I went out there in the eighth, my pitch count was good,” Dunning said. “I was kinda going through the lineup pretty steadily. I felt comfortable, even in that eighth inning. … I wanted to finish the game and just things got a little out of hand.”

Jon King and the Rangers bullpen kept the Rangers in it until Adolis García won it in the 10th with a two-run blast.

Dunning didn’t get the win but took another step. And in Yankee Stadium at that.

“I had a blast,” he said. “Atmosphere was fantastic. It was fun to play in.”

The American League West-leading Rangers (47-28) go for the series win Saturday at 3:05 p.m. CT. Right-hander Jon Gray (6-2, 2.96) starts opposite Yankees right-hander Luis Severino (0-2, 6.30).

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You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

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