Red Sox-Rangers preview
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas could use a little Steven Wright-like surprise from the starting rotation in the wake of injuries the Rangers have dealt with lately. Saturday starter A.J. Griffin could be just that guy. The right-hander, who hasn't pitched for the Rangers since May 7, is slated to make his first start since going down with right shoulder stiffness. Griffin (3-0, 2.94 ERA) will get the start opposite Wright (8-4, 2.01), who has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball this year. Griffin could provide a boost to a Texas rotation that is already without Yu Darvish, Derek Holland and Colby Lewis. Griffin doesn't feel like he has to come in and fill a void. "My job is just to go out there and give us the best chance to win every time they give me the ball," Griffin said. "You can't concern yourself with stuff like that. It's unfortunate to lose a couple of quality pitchers have gone down but that's part of the nature of the beast. It's tough, but we've got some good ballplayers here and we'll pick them up." The Rangers can only hope that Griffin can make close to the impact the knuckleballer Wright has done with the Red Sox. Wright had seven wins entering the 2016 season, but comes into Saturday's game as the American League ERA leader with a 2.01 ERA. He's also had quality starts in 12 of his 14 outings this year. "The one thing I would say is what we've witnesses is just a constant," Boston manager John Farrell said of Wright. "He's has been a dependable pitcher. If he can catch reliable and dependable to a major league player, that goes a long way. He has earned trust with each outing he's made for us. He's pitched out of some tight jams at various points in the game." While Wright is coming off a nine-inning start in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox, Griffin has made his last three starts for Double-A Frisco. His last outing, a five-inning start, was his sharpest. "I felt really good about my last outing down there," said Griffin, who hasn't faced Boston since he was with Oakland in 2013. "I'm trying to build off that and carry it into this game against the Red Sox." Griffin did that for the Rangers before he got hurt. He had quality starts in four of his first five outings with Texas and posted a 2.32 ERA to go along with a 3-0 record. His short May 7 outing against Detroit because of the injury snapped a string of 33 straight starts for Griffin of at least five innings. He pitched 2 2/3 innings against the Tigers. |