Starting pitcher Roy Oswalt signed with the Rangers several weeks ago, and initially was said to need about four minor-league starts before he would be stretched out enough to join the Rangers.
Sunday night, he made his fourth minor-league start and he threw 100 pitches. That sounds like a pitcher that is stretched out. He had his best outing yet, too.
Oswalt, 34, hadn't been very good in his first three minor-league outings, but Sunday night he threw what is considered a statistical quality start. He worked six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out five and walking just one. Seventy of his 100 pitches were strikes (all stats via MiLB.com).
With Neftali Feliz, Derek Holland and Alexi Ogando on the disabled list, the Rangers have a need for a starting pitcher, too. Scott Feldman is 0-6 with a 7.14 ERA and 1.62 WHIP as a starter this season. Also, 23-year-old Justin Grimm made his major-league debut Saturday night. He'd previously never even pitched above Double-A. So the Rangers could either move Feldman back to the bullpen -- where he's much better -- or Grimm back to Double-A, or even Triple-A, for more seasoning to clear a spot for Oswalt.
Pure speculation: I bet Oswalt gets the call to start either Friday or Saturday, Feldman heads to the bullpen after his Tuesday start and Grimm sticks around in the rotation until Holland returns.
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