Heaney exercised his $13 million player option for 2024 on Saturday.
Heaney was 2.2 innings away from reaching an incentive that would've increased his option to $20 million, but the 32-year-old southpaw will stick with the World Series champs nonetheless. Heaney posted a 4.15 ERA and 1.38 WHIP during his first year in Texas and figures to remain in the back end of the Rangers' rotation next season.
Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Gets nod for Game 4 of World Series
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Heaney will start Game 4 of the World Series against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Heaney should be relatively fresh heading into Tuesday's matchup after last taking the mound in Game 2 on Saturday. He recorded two outs and surrendered one hit on six pitches. However, his last postseason start resulted in a disaster, as he gave up three runs on four hits and one walk in 0.2 innings during Game 4 of the ALCS versus Houston.
Heaney will start Game 4 of the ALCS on Thursday against the Astros, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Heaney turned in 3.2 innings of one-run ball during his first postseason appearance against Baltimore, and he's now set up to face an Astros lineup that has been relatively quiet through the first three games of the series. Heaney faced the Astros four times during the regular season, giving up six runs across 19.2 innings while striking out 16 batters and walking 11.
Heaney will start for the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday at Baltimore.
The right-handed Dane Dunning seemed like the best bet to start Game 1 prior to Friday's announcement, but he could be viewed as a piggyback option after the left-handed Heaney navigates the tough left-handed and switch hitters that tend to occupy the top of the Orioles' batting order. Heaney finished his regular season on a high note last weekend at Seattle, scattering five hits and one walk over 4.1 scoreless innings in an 85-pitch start. His previous six appearances were in relief.
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Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Sharp in spot start
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Heaney didn't factor into the decision Saturday as the Rangers won 6-1 over the Mariners, allowing five hits and a walk over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out two.
While the southpaw didn't record the win, he was a key part of Texas' playoff-clinching victory. Heaney tossed 85 pitches (51 strikes) in his first start since Sept. 4, and he extended his streak of appearances without giving up an earned run to five. The Rangers still need a win Sunday, or an Astros loss, to lock up the AL West crown and a first-round bye in the playoffs, but if they wind up with a wild-card spot, Heaney could play a big role in that series too with Jon Gray (forearm) and Max Scherzer (shoulder) both currently on the IL. On the season, Heaney has a 4.15 ERA and 151:60 K:BB through 147.1 innings.
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Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Gets starting nod Saturday
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Heaney is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Mariners in Seattle, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The veteran southpaw has made his last six appearances in relief, with the most recent outing coming in the series opener Thursday, when he tossed a 17-pitch scoreless inning. Given that he hasn't covered more than five innings in a game since late August, Heaney could end up serving as more of an opener or piggyback starter rather than a traditional starter Saturday. The Rangers will have Martin Perez (five days' rest) and Cody Bradford (three days' rest) available as potential bulk-relief options to work behind Heaney.
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Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Works in relief Monday
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Heaney pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief during Monday's 5-1 win over the Angels.
Heaney threw 22 pitches as part of the bullpen that covered the final three innings after starter Jon Gray left with a wrist injury. With Cody Bradford set to open Tuesday's game, it looks like the Rangers may need length out of the bullpen, which Heaney has frequently provided in September.
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Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Lit up in relief
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Heaney allowed six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over two relief innings in Friday's 12-3 loss to Cleveland.
Heaney looked likely to rejoin the starting rotation this weekend with Max Scherzer (shoulder) on the shelf, but he ended up being summoned in long relief Friday after starter Jon Gray lasted just 3.2 innings. The veteran lefty made his second long-relief appearance in as many outings, both after short outings by Gray. Since he tossed 55 pitches Friday, Heaney is removed from consideration to start Sunday in what would have been Max Scherzer's turn in the rotation. The Rangers will need a fifth member of the rotation at least two more times beyond Sunday during the regular season, so Heaney could be used as a traditional starter over the coming two weeks.
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Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Picks up win in relief
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Heaney moved to 10-6 on the season while working in relief in Sunday's 9-4 win over the Athletics, striking out six over 3.2 scoreless innings while allowing four hits and a walk.
Starter Jon Gray was pulled during a difficult third inning, but Heaney was able to step up in his first relief appearance of the season. Prior to Sunday's outing, Heaney was already confirmed to not be starting during the upcoming four-game series against the Blue Jays, which starts Monday. It's unclear if the Rangers have permanently bumped him from the rotation or if he will be part of a six-man group going forward. Heaney has pitched to a 4.10 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 141:55 K:BB over 136 innings across 28 appearances this season. If he makes his next start on schedule, he would be lined up for a road outing in Cleveland.
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Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Struggles with walks in no-decision
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Heaney did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in a 13-6 loss against the Astros. He struck out one.
It's the fourth time in Heaney's last five starts that he's failed to make it through the fifth inning -- he's worked to a 4.66 ERA in that span (19.1 innings). Command was the biggest issue for Heaney on Monday, as he matched a season high with four walks. Overall, the left-hander is 9-6 with a 4.22 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 135:54 K:BB across 27 starts (132.1 innings) this season. Heaney will look to provide more length in his next start, currently scheduled for next week in Toronto.
Heaney came away with a no-decision Tuesday in the Rangers' 2-1 win over the Mets, allowing five hits and a walk over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
The veteran lefty held the opposition off the board for the third time in six August starts, wrapping up the month with a 2.39 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 31:7 K:BB through 26.1 innings, but Heaney's had to settle for no-decisions in four straight outings and has only one quality start during that stretch, as manager Bruce Bochy is reluctant to let the oft-injured 32-year-old work more than about 80 pitches. While that usage puts a cap on his fantasy value, Heaney's still on an impressive roll heading into his next trip to the mound, which is likely to come at home early next week against the Astros.
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Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Serves up three homers Thursday
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Heaney allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on Thursday.
Heaney entered the contest having given up just two homers over his past seven outings covering 32 innings, but he had trouble keeping the ball in the park against the Twins. The three long balls he allowed tied a season-high mark, though the impact was softened by the fact that all three were solo shots. Still, Heaney failed to take advantage of his team's generous early run support, as he was pulled after just 4.1 frames. The left-hander emerged from the All-Star break on a roll with four wins and a 2.33 ERA over 27 innings across his first five starts, but he's gone less than five frames in each of his past three outings and has allowed seven runs over 9.1 innings during that span.
Heaney did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk over 3.2 innings against the Brewers. He struck out three.
The veteran lefty allowed all three of his runs in the third inning on three doubles and a single, then was pulled with two outs and one man on in the fourth after 84 pitches. Heaney maintains a decent 4.27 ERA with nine wins and 122 strikeouts in 118 innings on the season for the first-place Rangers. However, in his last two starts he's allowed 13 baserunners and four runs over just five innings. Manager Bruce Bochy noted Heaney was under the weather and did not throw a bullpen prior to his previous start against San Francisco, per Kennedi Landri of MLB.com, but there were no such concerns Friday. The manager chalked up the short outing to poor command. Heaney will look to regain his form next week in Minnesota.
