Kevin Millwood, Vincete Padilla, Scott Feldman, Matt Harrison and Brandon McCarthy, these are the 5 staters that Ron Washington hopes to start off the season with. How confident am I that this is actually the opening day rotation? Well, Padilla, Feldman and Harrison would seem a safe bet and IF Millwood is healthy he is a no brainer. So that leaves us with the often injured and overall fairly unimpressive Brandon McCarthy. Should he falter the Rangers have a few options.

Kason Gabbard and Lulis Mendoza (netiher of whom could hold a spot last year) may get another try. Tommy Hunter also could get a more extended look.  My money is on Dustin Nippert. Nippert got into some games last year with the Rangers and was just ok, but he did show some flashes.

Could Neftali Feliz or Derek Holland actually make the rotation to start the year? It is not likely, but stranger things have happened.

The Texas Rangers were down one run heading into the bottom of the eighth inning but they scored four runs off of Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth to take a three run lead and eventually won the ball game 11-8. Great comeback for the Rangers who never gave up.

Taylor Teagarden got the comeback started with a rbi double and then he scored on a Michael Young single. Marlon Byrd then hit a two-run triple to deep right field to score the tying and go ahead runs.

Earlier in the game Teagarden hit a grandslam and Travis Metcalf hit a three run home run. Teagarden and Metcalf sure did have a great game as Teagarden finished with five rbi and Metcalf three.

On the mound the Rangers had to call to the bullpen early in the game due to an injury to starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy who only recorded two outs in the first inning. McCarthy was taken out of the game after he strained a flexor tendon on his right middle finger.

Four of the next five Rangers pitchers gave up runs as they had a pretty bad outing. Luis Mendoza and Jamey Wright both gave up one run each, Wes Littleton gave up two runs, while Josh Rupe was charged with four runs. Frank Francisco was the only pitcher to not allow a run as he picked up the victory.

The Rangers will try to make it two in a row over the Tigers on Tuesday night.

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The Texas Rangers have released information about Brandon McCarthy and his injured forearm.  McCarthy has severe inflammation in a forearm muscle near his elbow.  The injury won’t need surgery to repair at this point, McCarthy and the Rangers will just play the waiting game and hope that it ges better with some rest.

With the injury to McCarthy, Luis Mendoza or the newely acquired Sidney Ponson could replace him in the starting rotation.  I’d put my money on Mendoza however, as I really don’t want to see Ponson ever pitching for big league team.  Keep that fan man in the minors lol!

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