Pitching Plans in Place for Postponement

ARLINGTON – Alliteration is fun. But in this case, it’s also practical.

With the chances of playing tonight at less than 50 percent – that’s just a guess from this end, but the forecast hasn’t gotten any better in the last two hours – Rangers manager Ron Washington unveiled his pitching plans in case tonight’s game is rained out. That would give the Rangers three consecutive days off and change around some pitching plans.

Washington said RHPs Kevin Millwood and Tommy Hunter would start the doubleheader on Sunday. Regardless of what happens Sunday, RHP Scott Feldman will pitch Monday because the Rangers want to keep him pitching on regular rest. On Tuesday, the Rangers would go with LHP Derek Holland and RHP Brandon McCarthy would pitch Wednesday, though those two pitchers could be flip-flopped. If the teams do play tonight, the Rangers would need another starter for Wednesday’s series finale against Oakland. Washington indicated RHP Dustin Nippert could step into that spot.

Also another potential scenario emerges to keep all the games in Arlington if tonight’s game is rained out. It’s possible – though it would require the approval of MLB – that Seattle could be held over a day and the Rangers couyld paly a day-night doubleheader against two different teams. The Rangers could play Seattle in the early afternoon and play their regularly-scheduled game against Oakland at 7:05. There is precedent. Cleveland hosted the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins in such an arrangement in September, 2000.