Tejeda vs. Escobar

The Rangers are playing good baseball right now. They’ve won or split each series going back almost a month. And the kicker: they’re doing it against good teams – playoff caliber teams. And now they are looking to sweep the Angels of Anaheim near Los Angeles. But the best part of this series is that Vlad the Impaler isn’t having his normal “Insane Series” like he normally does against the Boys-in-Blue. He’s connected for one hit each game thus far.

Kelvim Jose Escobar pitches for the Angels and Robinson Tejeda throws for the Rangers. Escobar has already taken the hill against the Rangers this season in which he got the win. He gave up three hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings, which turned into three runs (two earned). His ERA stands at 3.32 and his WHIP is 1.18. His record is 9-3. In his career against Texas, 3-8 with three saves. He’s given up 11 HRs in 95 career innings. His previous start, he gave up 7 runs in 4 1/3 innings. He didn’t get a decision, but the Angels did win that game… WOW. Anyway, the Halos have won the last three Escobar starts. The current Ranger roster does not hit him well. And that is an understatement. There are a few sparks in what is a rather dismal list of batting averages.

• Frank Catalanotto: 2-18 (.111 ave.); 1 double, 1 RBI
• Jerry Hairston Jr.: 6-24 (.250 ave.); 2 doubles, 2 RBIs
• Gerald Laird: 2-11 (.182 ave.); 1 HR, 2 RBIs
• Kenny Lofton: 5-19 (.263 ave.); 2 doubles
• Desi Relaford: 4-10 (.400 ave.); 2 RBIs
• Sammy Sosa: 1-3 (.333 ave.)
• Brad Wilkerson: 4-9 (.444 ave.); 1 HR, 1 RBI
• Michael Young: 8-33 (.242 ave.); 2 HRs, 7 RBIs

There are more players who have #s against him, albeit ugly #s, but they are on the DL, so it really doesn’t matter if they are 20 out of 20, they can’t play today, so there. One last thing, he’s a career 1-3 with one save at the Ballpark with a 3.40 ERA and one homerun every 10 innings of work here. We slap him with a .217 batting average against him in Arlington.

Robinson Tejeda sports a 6.69 ERA this year with a 5-7 record (no Ranger starter has a winning record, so we can simply say that he sucks based on his ERA). The good thing is the Rangers are hot. We can also say that Tejeda is not. The Rangers have won three of his last ten starts. And he’s 2-5 in that stretch. He’s given up 19 runs in his last four starts, only 14 were earned. The defense isn’t backing him up. Tejeda has only hit 5 innings or more four times in his last 10 starts. He’s pitched under four innings four times. OUCH! This guy spells bullpen wear out easily. I bet they get bummed out when they see his name come up on the rotation.

At home, Tejeda pitches a little better with a 6.28 ERA. Why is he still starting, I don’t know. He’s better at home WITH a 6.28 ERA. On the road, his ERA is an AWFUL 7.17 ERA. Thank goodness he’s home. Robinson hasn’t pitched against the Angels this year. In three career starts against the Angels, he is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. The Halos bat an even .300 against Tejeda but have only scored 6 career runs, all earned, in 17 innings. They’ve clobbered him with 21 hits and 5 walks for a WHIP of 1.53; he’s fanned 10. I don’t know how Tejeda has done so well against the Angels. I guess it just boils down to the fact that its baseball. Anything can happen in the game of baseball.

Forecast: Will the Rangers sweep the Angels tonight? Unlikely. Tejeda is the weakest link right now in the rotation. He hasn’t done well all season. He has sparks that end up fading. I would like for the Rangers to sweep. Should the Rangers win, it will be due to the bullpen and not anything Tejeda brings to the table. I guess the real odds are more of 50-50. The score for tonight: 7-6 Angels.