Rangers bump back Feliz's starts to give him extra rest
The Texas Rangers watched first-time starter Alexi Ogando fade and fatigue down the stretch last year.
They don't intend to let the same thing happen with Neftali Feliz this season.
Manager Ron Washington acknowledged as much Wednesday when announcing the club would move Feliz's next couple of starts around to give him extra rest. Feliz, who threw 119 pitches in an eight-inning complete game Saturday, was moved into the bullpen temporarily Wednesday and will have each of his next two starts pushed back. He pitched one inning Wednesday in a 7-3 win over the New York Yankees and allowed a homer to Raul Ibanez.
Feliz has made the move from the bullpen to the rotation this season, the same move Ogando made last year.
Because the Rangers have an off day Thursday and another next Thursday, they can push Feliz's next start back to Tuesday at Toronto. After the second off day, while all the other starters get one extra day of rest, Feliz will get two. He will pitch on May 8 at Baltimore.
"This is just something we're doing," Washington said. "We can take the opportunity to do it now or on the back end. We didn't have a plan for Ogando, but we learned from that."
The reshuffled rotation will now look like this for the three-game series against Tampa Bay: Matt Harrison will pitch Friday and will be followed by Colby Lewis and then Derek Holland. Yu Darvish will start the opener of a 10-game road trip Monday at Toronto and will be followed by Feliz and Harrison. After the second off day, the Rangers will send Lewis, Holland and Darvish to the mound in Cleveland. It also means Darvish will pitch the series opener against the Angels on May 11.
