Rangers look to Hamels for help against A's (Aug 26, 2017)
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Since he came to the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2015, in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies, left-hander Cole Hamels has gone 31-7.
Hamels went 7-1 for the Rangers in 2015 and 15-5 last year. This season, he's 9-1 and will take a five-game winning streak into his 17th start on Saturday afternoon against the Oakland Athletics and left-hander Sean Manaea at Oakland Coliseum.
No one has to remind Rangers manager Jeff Banister what Hamels has meant to his team or how important he'll be as Texas makes its wild-card playoff push.
"He's been our ace, he's been the guy when we need somebody to step up and put a foot down or step up and continue the streak," Banister said Friday before a 3-1 loss to Oakland. "He's been a huge, integral part of the success we've had since he got here."
Hamels has a .816 winning percentage in 60 starts for the Rangers. He's the second pitcher in major-league history with a winning percentage of .800 or higher in his first 60 starts with a team, joining Jim McCormick in that club. McCormick went 47-10 (.825) in his first 60 games for the Chicago Cubs from 1885 to 86.
Hamels went 2-0 in his first five starts this year but landed on the disabled list on May 3 (retroactive to April 30) with a strained right oblique that cost him 51 games. Since returning from the DL on June 26, Hamels has gone 7-1 with a 3.59 ERA in 11 starts.
"I think the time on the DL allowed him to strengthen back up," Banister said. "Spring training wasn't a normal spring training for him either. The time on the DL probably freshened him up, sharpened him up, allowed that body to strengthen back up."
After losing the series opener against Oakland and falling two games behind Minnesota for the second wild-card spot in the American League, the Rangers could use a vintage Hamels outing. Job No. 1 for him will be to keep A's slugger Khris Davis under control.
Davis hit two home runs, both solo shots, off Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez on Friday night. Davis has 15 home runs and 31 RBIs in 28 career games against the Rangers. The homers and RBIs are his most against any opponent.
"He seems to be very comfortable in the batter's box against us," Banister said. "He's swung the bat extremely well, especially with the home run situation against us. We've got to do a much better job against Davis."
Manaea has had seven days to rest and prepare for his 24th start of the season. Manaea was 8-5 with a 3.68 ERA in his first 17 starts. Since then, he has been in a mysterious slump, going-0-3 with an 8.17 ERA in six starts.
During that slide, Manaea has allowed eight home runs, struck out 13 and walked six in 25 1/3 innings. He gave up eight home run in his first 17 starts over 100 1/3 innings, while striking out 101 and walking 37.
"It's a little crazy and I guess nice to get a couple extra days," Manaea said. "I've been working my butt off trying to figure out this little funk I've been in, but it seems like things are going really well, and the past couple bullpens have been really good. I'm excited for tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it."
Manaea made some strides in his last start on Aug. 18 at Houston. He gave up six hits and three runs in six innings in a 3-1 loss. He struck out two, walked one and allowed two home runs.
"Last start there were definitely a lot of good things I took away from it," Manaea said. "I know my slider and changeup just weren't there, but I recognized that during the game and then taking it into these bullpens is kind of what I focused on.
"Get that feeling back, especially for my slider and my changeup. The last start was definitely a step in the right direction. I'm just trying to keep things going and finish off the season strong and get out there tomorrow."
Manaea is 1-2 with a 4.97 career starts against Texas. In his only start against the Rangers this year, he gave up six runs (five earned) and three hits in 5 1/3 innings in an 8-1 loss on April 9. He struck out a career-high 10 and walked two.
Hamels is 2-1 with a 2.94 ERA in five career starts against the A's. He's 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA in three starts at the Coliseum.
