Dunning cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Triple-A Round Rock.
Dunning will officially stick with the organization after being dropped from the 40-man roster Wednesday. He's made five starts in the minors so far this season, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 20 innings, and he could be in consideration for a move back to the Rangers if the big club's pitching depth is tested down the road.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Designated for assignment
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The Rangers designated Dunning for assignment Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dunning made one appearance after being selected to the active roster Monday, allowing two runs over three innings. He'll now be stripped of his 40-man spot to make room for Tucker Barnhart, who was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday. With a poor MLB track record and a 5.40 ERA in the minors this year, it's likely Dunning passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Back in big leagues
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The Rangers selected Dunning's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dunning was removed from the 40-man roster prior to Opening Day but has made his way back to the big leagues after posting a 5.40 ERA and 21:9 K:BB over 20 innings covering five starts at Round Rock. He will give the bullpen some length.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Outrighted to Triple-A
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The Rangers outrighted Dunning to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dunning passed through waivers unclaimed, with his $2.66 million salary likely being a major reason why. He will remain in the organization and could be used in the Round Rock rotation.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Placed on waivers
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The Rangers placed Dunning on outright waivers Sunday, allowing him to be claimed by other teams, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
The right-hander remains on the 40-man roster for now, but he could be outrighted to the minors if he goes unclaimed on waivers. Dunning posted a 5.31 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 91:40 K:BB across 95 innings last season, and he struggled during spring training with 10 runs allow over 11 frames.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Makes first spring start
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Dunning allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one over two innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Athletics.
After a pair of two-inning outings out of the bullpen, Dunning made his first Cactus League start. The Rangers plan to stretch him out and see where Dunning fits on the roster later in March, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports. The 2023 version of Dunning was a valuable starter and earned the team's Pitcher of the Year award, but the right-hander went the other way in 2024 and was removed from the rotation by mid-June.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Reaches deal with Texas
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Dunning signed a one-year, $2.66 million contract with the Rangers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Dunning's 2025 salary represents a $670,000 pay cut from 2024, though he'll have opportunities to earn more money through incentives. It's not too surprising to see the 29-year-old righty receive a lower base salary after putting up a career-worst 5.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 95 innings.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Strikes out five in no-decision
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Dunning did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Mariners, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 3.2 innings.
Dunning started in place of Max Scherzer (hamstring) and surrendered two runs in the first inning, including a leadoff homer by Julio Rodriguez. Dunning generated seven whiffs on 81 pitches and departed with the game tied at 2-2 in the fourth frame. On the season, he owns a 5.36 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 90:40 K:BB across 94 total innings as both a starter and reliever.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Fill-in starter
Rotowire
Dunning is listed as the probable pitcher for Saturday's game against the Mariners.
Dunning replaces Max Scherzer (undisclosed) as the Rangers' starter. Dunning will be making his first MLB appearance since Aug. 30, but the 29-year-old is relatively stretched out, having thrown between 56 and 72 pitches in his last three appearances with Triple-A Round Rock. He has a 5.03 ERA and 74:31 K:BB across 68 innings in 14 starts with the Rangers this season.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rangers optioned Dunning to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
Dunning was lit up for five earned runs over three innings during his last appearance Friday, and he'll now head back to Triple-A in an effort to right the ship. Chase Anderson was selected from Round Rock in a corresponding move to replenish Texas' bullpen depth.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Works out of bullpen Saturday
Rotowire
Dunning was used in relief in Saturday's 13-5 loss to the Guardians, tossing one inning while allowing one earned run on two hits.
Dunning had started in both of his previous two appearances, but he looks set to operate as a reliever moving forward with the Rangers expected to call up Jack Leiter from Triple-A Round Rock during the upcoming week to serve as a temporary fifth member of the rotation until at least one of Tyler Mahle (shoulder), Jacob deGrom (elbow) or Max Scherzer (shoulder) returns from the injured list. In his last start Monday against the Pirates, Dunning averaged just 88.1 miles per hour with his fastball, and he didn't notice much of a bump in velocity Saturday despite moving to the bullpen. He maxed out at 90.3 mph and failed to generate a swinging strike from any of the four batters he faced.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Removed due to dip in velocity
Rotowire
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Dunning was removed after four innings in his start during Monday's 4-3 win over the Pirates because he was displaying diminished velocity and spin on his pitches, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The right-hander averaged just 88.1 miles per hour with his fastball in the outing, which was down nearly two ticks from his season average. Bochy noted that he doesn't think Dunning is dealing with an injury, and the right-hander doesn't appear in line to undergo any testing. Dunning is tentatively slated for a start this weekend in Cleveland, but it's possible those plans could change.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Lasts four frames in no-decision
Rotowire
Dunning did not factor into the decision in Monday's 4-3 win against Pittsburgh, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over four innings. He struck out four.
The Rangers right-hander pitched well through three scoreless innings before unraveling in the fourth, when the Pirates knocked three hits, capped by Jared Triolo a three-run homer. The long ball once again undid Dunning in this start, as he has allowed 13 homers across 68 innings over 14 starts (1.7 HR/9) while yielding just two over 18.1 relief innings (1.0 HR/9). Overall, the 29-year-old has pitched to a 5.00 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 85:39 K:BB this season. Jose Urena picked up the win Thursday in relief while Max Scherzer (shoulder) and Jacob deGrom (elbow) are both rehabbing their injuries, so Dunning's place in the Texas rotation is unsteady. If he remains a starter, the righty lines up to make his next outing against the Guardians on the road this weekend.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Garnering start Monday
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Dunning will start Monday's contest against the Pirates.
The choice seemed to come down to Dunning or Jose Urena and the Rangers have opted for the former. Dunning has been deployed as a swingman this season and this will be his second appearance in a row as a starter after he allowed four runs over five frames last week versus the Red Sox. While Dunning could earn additional turns in the rotation, his spot is tenuous with Max Scherzer (shoulder) and Jacob deGrom (elbow) lurking.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: No-decision in Wednesday's start
Rotowire
Dunning came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 9-7 extra-inning win over the Red Sox, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over five-plus innings. He struck out three.
Making his first start since June 16, Dunning was able to give the Rangers a solid 76 pitches (48 strikes), but he ran out of gas in the sixth inning and got the hook after serving up a Wilyer Abreu solo shot and a Masataka Yoshida single to begin the frame. With Jose Urena struggling and Texas dealing with multiple injuries to starting pitchers, Dunning's performance might have been good enough to keep him in the rotation for at least one more turn, but his 4.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 81:38 K:BB through 82.1 innings innings don't inspire a lot of confidence from a fantasy perspective.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Drawing start Wednesday
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Dunning will start Wednesday's game in Boston.
Dunning's last eight appearances have all come in relief, although he has been stretched out to more than 60 pitches a couple times over that span. His last appearance came Sunday when he threw two innings against the Yankees, so he likely won't be asked to work deep into Wednesday's outing.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Tosses 28 pitches in relief Sunday
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Dunning struck out a batter and worked around two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Yankees.
After starting in his first 12 games of the season, Dunning has now made each of his last eight appearances out of the Texas bullpen. He's recorded at least four outs in each of his relief outings and has been able to stay relatively stretched out, as he tossed 61 pitches in an appearance back on Aug. 6 against the Astros. With Nathan Eovaldi (oblique) getting pushed back in the pitching schedule this week, the Rangers will have an opening in the rotation Wednesday in Boston, and Dunning could be part of the pitching plan for that day. However, since he tossed 28 pitches Sunday and would be working on two days' rest, Dunning likely wouldn't be asked to handle a traditional starter's workload if he's called on to pitch Wednesday.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Needed for multiple innings
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Dunning allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over three relief innings in Saturday's 7-3 loss to Toronto.
Dunning made his first appearance after being activated off the 15-day injured list Thursday. The right-hander opened the season as part of the Rangers' rotation but has since been moved to the bullpen. His length as a starter likely means he'll be used as a multi-inning reliever, which will come in handy when a starter doesn't get deep. That was the case Saturday when Michael Lorenzen couldn't get out of the first inning.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Activated from injured list
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The Rangers activated Dunning (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Dunning has been sidelined for most of this month with a shoulder issue but is ready to go after making two rehab appearances. The right-hander had been moved to the bullpen shortly before getting injured and will fill a multi-inning relief role for Texas now that he's healthy again.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Rehab transferred to Triple-A
Rotowire
Dunning (shoulder) had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
Dunning has been on the 15-day injured list since July 5 as a result of right shoulder soreness, but he's now one step closer to his return to the big leagues. The right-hander pitched two scoreless innings in his only rehab start with Double-A Frisco on Sunday and it's possible that Dunning will only need one outing with Round Rock before being activated from the IL.
