The Texas Rangers announced their rotation for the ALCS Friday. Texas decided to go with the same group of starters versus the Detroit Tigers that got them into the second round of the playoffs.
C.J. Wilson will take on Justin Verlander in game one. Derek Holland will follow up Wilson, with Colby Lewis and Matt Harrison pitching games three and four.
The Rangers wanted to wait and see who they would be facing in the ALCS before they officially set their rotation. Ultimately, Texas manager Ron Washington said that he likes the one-two punch that Wilson and Holland offer.
Wilson was hit hard in game one of the Rangers first round matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays, taking the only loss of the series. The Rays scored six earned runs on seven hits against Wilson in only five innings.
Holland got the Rangers rolling, holding the Rays to a single run over his five innings of work in game two. The 24-year-old also pitched 1.1 frames of relief Tuesday, helping the Rangers wrap up their series.
Game three starter Colby Lewis provided the best effort amongst Rangers starters. Lewis held the Rays to one run on one hit in six innings, leading the Rangers to a 4-3 victory.
Like Holland, Harrison also worked both in relief and as a starter during the first round of the playoffs. Harrison pitched two thirds of an inning during the ALDS opener and then came back to pick up the win during Texas’s decisive game four.
The Tigers and Rangers kick off their second round playoff series tonight in Arlington.
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