33 Dane Dunning SP

Dunning will not pitch Sunday against Houston as originally projected, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Dunning would have made the start on regular rest, but the Rangers are opting to put Taylor Hearn on the mound instead. The team has been careful with Dunning's workload during his starts, as he has completed more than five innings only twice. Even so, Dunning has already thrown 83.2 innings on the campaign, and he has not topped 100 frames in a season since 2017.

Dunning (3-7) allowed three runs on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts through 4.2 innings in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Tigers.

In his final start before the All-Star break, Dunning mowed down the Tigers, allowing just one run while striking out six in a 10-5 Texas victory. It was a different story Tuesday night. Dunning gave up home runs to Robbie Grossman and Eric Haase and could only manage two strikeouts, his lowest total since April 23.

Dunning allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out six across five innings Tuesday against the Tigers. He did not factor into the decision.

The only hit Dunning allowed was a solo home run to Robbie Grossman in the fourth inning. He otherwise dominated the Tigers and has now allowed only 10 earned runs across his last 27 innings pitched. On the other hand, Dunning's potential to earn wins and rack up strikeouts has been stifled by the Rangers carefully monitoring his workload. Tuesday's outing was the latest example, as Dunning was pulled after throwing 65 pitches. He left the game with a 5-1 lead, but the bullpen blew his potential chance for a win. Dunning now has a 4.22 ERA with 85 strikeouts across 79 innings this season.

Dunning didn't factor into the decision after working four innings and allowing four hits and two walks Thursday against Oakland. He had four strikeouts.

The Rangers clearly want to avoid having Dunning work deep into games; the 26-year-old was lifted from Thursday's start despite having thrown only 68 pitches (43 strikes) and yielding just three singles. He's 3-6 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.51 WHIP across 16 starts, posting a 79:27 K:BB in 74 innings of work. Dunning is projected to return to the mound next week against Detroit.

Dunning (3-6) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts across five innings Friday, earning the win over Kansas City.

Dunning allowed an RBI triple to Whit Merrifield in the third inning and an RBI double to Carlos Santana in the fifth. Friday's win was Dunning's first since May 9. He still isn't pitching very deep into games -- he's only completed six innings twice this year. The right-hander has a 4.63 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 75:25 K:BB across 70 innings. He lines up for his next start in Oakland next week.

Dunning (2-6) took the loss Sunday versus Minnesota. He allowed four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and two walks with five strikeouts in four innings.

The right-hander has failed to complete five innings in five of his last seven starts, and he's gone 0-3 with four no-decisions in that span. Dunning has a 4.71 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 71:23 K:BB across 65 innings this year. He's only allowed six home runs this year, but he's giving up a few too many baserunners to find much success. He'll look to right the ship versus Kansas City in next weekend's series.

Dunning (2-5) allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five across four innings, taking the loss to the Dodgers on Sunday.

Dunning surrendered a solo home run to Mookie Betts in the third frame as a part of a three-run inning. He is winless in his last six starts. The 26-year-old has been mediocre and he's received minimal run support from a bad offense. He has a 4.57 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP with 66 strikeouts in 61 innings.

Dunning didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Rays after tossing five scoreless innings, giving up three hits and two walks while fanning six.

Dunning has gone five straight outings without a win, but that doesn't mean he's been pitching poorly by any means -- he's given up two or fewer runs in three of his last four appearances. The 26-year-old right-hander, who owns a 4.26 ERA on the season, is scheduled to start next week on the road against the Dodgers.

Dunning pitched 4.2 innings against Colorado on Tuesday, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out three. He did not factor in the decision.

The brief outing could be considered a bounce-back effort for Dunning after he gave up seven runs over four frames in his previous start, and things could have been a lot worse Tuesday at Coors Field, but it's nonetheless disappointing the right-hander didn't stick around to qualify for the win. He threw 78 pitches -- 59 for strikes -- and departed with a pair of runners on base and two outs in the fifth. Dunning hasn't pitched a full five innings in three of his past four contests, logging a 6.27 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over that stretch. He'll likely make his next start on the road against the Dodgers next weekend.

Dunning (2-4) allowed seven runs over four-plus innings to pick up the loss to the Angels on Wednesday. He gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out four.

Dunning's first-inning issues reared itself once again, as the Angels plated five in the opening frame. The right-hander's given up 14 runs over 10 first innings (12.60 ERA). He's not putting himself in position to pitch deep into games; this was the seventh time in 10 starts he's thrown five or fewer innings. Dunning's spot in the rotation is next due Monday on the road in Colorado.

Dunning did not factor into the decision during Thursday's loss despite blanking the Yankees through six innings. He allowed four hits and a walk while striking out six.

Coming into Thursday's game, Dunning struggled with first inning woes, posting a 10.12 ERA in the first inning of his starts, including four runs in the first frame against Houston last time out. The right-hander turned things around against a tough Yankees lineup, holding them scoreless not only in the first inning, but throughout all of his six. It was just the second time this season Dunning did not allow a run. The 26-year-old improves to a 3.74 ERA and 1.34 WHIP on the year and is slated to take on the Angels next week in Anaheim.

Dunning is working to fix his approach early in games that has led to a 10.12 ERA in the first inning of his starts, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Dunning said he's mostly been a two-pitch pitcher the first time through the order, throwing primarily sliders and sinkers, before incorporating an offspeed pitch later. "Early on, for the most part, I usually try to work two pitches one time through the order," Dunning explained. "And the second time through the order, I add another pitch in and kind of keep doing that the same, just because I'm not trying to show them all my pitches at the very beginning." Starting Thursday against the Yankees, the right-hander intends to adjust that approach by throwing more changeups early to get batters off his slider/sinker. Other than the first-inning woes, Dunning has pitched well for Texas, posting a 4.34 ERA (2.61 FIP) over eight starts (37.1 innings).

Dunning (2-3) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Astros after allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks while fanning three across four innings.

Dunning was coming off a dominant performance the last time out with 10 strikeouts, but he was unable to repeat that outing and fanned only three this time -- his second-worst mark of the season in that category. Dunning has now allowed four or more runs in three of his last five appearances. His next start is scheduled for next week at home against the Yankees.

Dunning (2-2) earned the win Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out a career-high 10 batters over five innings against Seattle.

Dunning shut down the Mariners through the first four innings before Seattle got to him in the fifth. The right-hander limited the damage to two runs after escaping a bases-loaded jam. He induced 17 swings-and-misses, using mostly his sinker and slider. Dunning is next projected to pitch Saturday at Houston on five days rest, although with an off-day coming Wednesday, he could start Friday on normal rest.

Dunning (1-2) took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings Monday against the Twins.

Dunning surrendered one run in the second inning, one in the third and one in the sixth, though he was just one out away from turning in a quality start. Unfortunately, his club was unable to get any offense going until the eighth inning, making a late push before falling 6-5 in the series opener. Through six starts in 2021, he has a 3.81 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 29 strikeouts across 28.1 innings.

Dunning (1-1) allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out six across five innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Angels.

Dunning struggled out of the gate and allowed all four of his earned runs in the first inning. The majority of the damage was done on singles -- he allowed four while also issuing one walk and uncorking a wild pitch -- though he rebounded to allow only two baserunners in his final four frames. Dunning had been excellent in his first three outings to begin the season, but he has come back to earth by allowing nine earned runs across 7.2 innings in his last two starts. He's projected to take the ball next Monday at Minnesota.

Dunning allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks over 2.2 innings in Friday's loss to the White Sox. He struck out two batters and did not factor in the decision.

Dunning fell apart in the third inning, giving up five runs and being lifted from the game before he could finish the frame. The 26-year-old was in line for the loss before the Rangers' offense came back to tie the game at 6-6 in the sixth on an Isiah Kiner-Falefa RBI single. Dunning had allowed just one run through 15 innings prior to Friday's poor outing. He'll look to get his momentum back at home against the Angels next Wednesday.

Dunning fired six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and zero walks while striking out five in Saturday's loss to the Orioles. He did not factor in the decision.

Dunning did all he could Saturday, but the Rangers' bullpen couldn't hold up. Six shutout innings lowers Dunning's ERA to 0.60 in 15 innings over three starts. What might be even more impressive is his 16 strikeouts compared to only two walks. Dunning is producing numbers like an ace that the Rangers desperately need.

Dunning didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 1-0 loss to the Rays, giving up two hits and two walks over four scoreless innings. He struck out five.

After going five innings in his first start of the year, Dunning got the hook a little earlier in this one but still dueled Tyler Glasnow to a standstill for four frames. Dunning tossed 71 pitches (44 strikes), which seems to be about his limit for now in the Rangers' tandem arrangement, and the right-hander will carry a 1.00 ERA and 11:2 K:BB through nine IP into his next start, set for Saturday at home against the Orioles.

Dunning (1-0) earned the win over Toronto on Tuesday, pitching five innings and allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out six.

The right-hander looked like he might be in for a tough night when Bo Bichette clubbed a solo home run off him in the first inning, but that was the only run Dunning allowed in the contest. The 26-year-old was expected to tandem start with Wes Benjamin on Tuesday, but Dunning was efficient enough with his pitch count -- he tossed 70 pitches in total (51 for strikes) -- that he remained in the game long enough to pick up the win. After a solid rookie campaign with the White Sox last season, Dunning is off to a strong start with his new team following an offseason trade. He's next expected to start Monday at Tampa Bay.