Rough stretch continues for Rangers' Hamels with bad Game 1 showing in ALDS
Hamels was chased in the fourth inning of a blowout loss to the Blue Jays to open the ALDS
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2 min read
It wasn't long ago that Cole Hamels was the surest thing in the Rangers rotation.
Hamels entered the last week of August on a roll. In his previous eight starts, he'd thrown 56 innings and compiled a 1.59 ERA. On the season, he had a 14-4 record and a 2.67 ERA -- marks that were certain to earn him Cy Young consideration. That's when things went sideways -- so, so far sideways. Hamels allowed 13 runs over his next two starts, then alternated between bad and good over his final four starts. He finished the regular season with a 3.32 ERA.
The Rangers nonetheless tabbed Hamels, who they paid a hefty price for last deadline, to start Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series against the Blue Jays. Unfortunately, for pitcher and team alike, Hamels did not perform to his standards.
Instead of going deep and keeping the Rangers in the game, Hamels was chased in the fourth after allowing seven runs and nine baserunners -- six of those reaching on two-strike counts. Truthfully, he overstayed his welcome. Hamels had allowed five runs through three frames, and Jeff Banister had change-of-pace artist Alex Claudio warm. Yet Banister permitted Hamels to start the fourth, and Hamels permitted a couple more Jays to circle the bases.
Now the Rangers have to ask an unanticipated question: Can they trust Hamels heading forward?
The answer would seem to be "no" based on the past month-plus. But Texas might not have a choice.
Yu Darvish is slated to start Game 2, and it's unlikely the Rangers would rush him back in time for a Game 5 start -- Darvish, after all, has battled injury issues for the last two years. The Rangers don't have many alternatives on the roster, either. Texas elected to roster seven relievers, but only four starters -- Colby Lewis and Martin Perez being the others, and both of them have their warts. Shy of an injury to Hamels, there's no way to add an alternative -- and even if Hamels is hurt, the Rangers' willingness to leave Derek Holland off their postseason roster speaks to their confidence in his ability to contribute in any capacity.
Besides, no matter how poorly Hamels looked down the stretch and in Game 1, the Rangers didn't acquire him to abandon hope after a rocky patch. Pitchers like Hamels receive all the opportunities in the world to set things straight.
So of course the Rangers will give Hamels the ball next time around. And if he fails again? Well, Hamels will probably have made his final start of the postseason -- as will the Rangers as a whole.
