The Rangers are yet to announce who their fifth starter is going to be. The only thing that we know so far is that it's either going to be Kameron Loe (pictured) or Jamey Wright.
If you were to look at the two pitchers numbers so far this spring, the decision would seem obvious. Both Loe and Wright lead the Rangers in innings pitched this spring, but there's about a 5-run difference in their ERA's. Loe has had the best spring of any Rangers hurler with a lovely little 0.92 ERA, while Wright checks in at 5.82.
Loe has earned the spot in the rotation, and he's let it be known he wants it.
"I'll talk about that if it ends up happening, but I'm obviously still hoping to be in the rotation. I think I've done everything I could do. It's out of my hands. This is going to be a big season for me, but the decision is out of my hands."
So what's the hold up? Well, it gets a little complicated for two reasons. One is that if the Rangers don't offer Wright a spot on the roster by Wednesday or offer him his release. The second part of the equation is that the Rangers only plan on using a 5th starter about three times in the month of April.
That means whichever pitcher gets the role of long relief is bound to pitch more innings than the starter. So even if Kameron Loe is sent to the pen, the Rangers would really be saying that they need him more than Wright. It's an odd situation for Loe, but it's probably going to have to be one he learns to live with.
Until May anyway.
