Are Texas Rangers gambling too much on Jacob Latz as a bullpen option this Sunday against Nationals
Image Source: Getty
It is a bullpen game with a lot on the line this Sunday, June 8, 2025, between the Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals. With the Rangers set for the decisive Game 7 of the ALCS vs. the Houston Astros, some eyebrows were raised across the baseballing world after the Rangers chose to start left-handed reliever Jacob Latz.
Considering Latz is best suited for the bullpen and a bullpen game is an unusual concept, is Texas rolling the dice too hard with Latz in such a big game?
Jacob Latz's transition from reliever to starter
Jacob Latz, who is currently 29 years old, has mostly earned his reputation as a left-handed reliever for the Rangers during the 2025 season. So far this year, he has shown remarkable control and poise on the mound, with a solid 2.95 ERA over 12 appearances and 20 strikeouts to 8 walks, with a 1.42 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched).
Latz has now gone scoreless in at least seven consecutive innings, so he can hang tough for a few frames.
But tonight will be Latz's first official start for the season, putting him in hostile waters. The Rangers have been dealing with a barrage of pitching obstacles, whether it be injuries to top-of-the-rotation starters, which has forced the coaching staff to get creative. It's all led to a bullpen game, with Latz set to go multiple innings before the Rangers' relievers take over.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
Latz has looked fine out of the bullpen, but does he have the ability to hold up in a rotation, facing an MLB lineup? The Rangers also will be taking close note of everything that goes into being a starting pitcher, the preparation, the stamina, the mix of pitches, as contrasted with being a reliever.
The Nationals' lineup and how this affects the game
The Washington Nationals come into this set at 30-34 and are searching for a bit of rhythm with the bats. Latz has been part of an up-and-down offense this season, so that was likely why the Rangers decided to gamble with a bullpen game and him.
The Rangers are hoping that having Latz start first will throw the Nationals off with his unfamiliarity as a starter and have them make adjustments to a hitter who has had a hard time in relief.
The test for the Nationals will be early adjustments and finding any weaknesses. Latz will present as a starter. Should the Nationals find a way to score a few early runs, it would put tremendous pressure on the Rangers' bullpen as this game progresses.
Is it a calculated risk or a desperate gamble?
Starting Jacob Latz on Sunday was a necessity for the Texas Rangers, but one that also highlights some strategic innovation. Injuries have battered their rotation, and the Rangers hardly have any other option but to rely on their bullpen depth. He continues to give the team hope based on recent performances, but a longer audition could test his stamina and resilience.
Also Read:
Texas Rangers could be eyeing a managerial change this winter- Report
All in all, this is one part calculated risk and one part reckless gamble. The Rangers may gain a significant victory if Latz can provide several solid innings. But if the Nationals can take advantage of Latz having little experience as a starter, that could backfire on the Rangers.
As the battle starts tonight, all eyes will be on the bullpen, Jacob Latz, and how the Rangers' game strategy plays out against the in-form Nationals.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Are Texas Rangers gambling too much on Jacob Latz as a bullpen option this Sunday against Nationals
Image Source: Getty It is a bullpen game with a lot on the line this Sunday, June 8, 2025, between the Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals. With the Rangers set for the decisive Game 7 of the ALCS vs. the Houston Astros, some eyebrows were raised across the baseballing world after the Rangers chose to start left-handed reliever Jacob Latz. Considering Latz is best suited for the bullpen and a bullpen game is an unusual concept, is Texas rolling the dice too hard with Latz in such a big game? Jacob Latz's transition from reliever to starter Jacob Latz, who is currently 29 years old, has mostly earned his reputation as a left-handed reliever for the Rangers during the 2025 season. So far this year, he has shown remarkable control and poise on the mound, with a solid 2.95 ERA over 12 appearances and 20 strikeouts to 8 walks, with a 1.42 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched). Latz has now gone scoreless in at least seven consecutive innings, so he can hang tough for a few frames. But tonight will be Latz's first official start for the season, putting him in hostile waters. The Rangers have been dealing with a barrage of pitching obstacles, whether it be injuries to top-of-the-rotation starters, which has forced the coaching staff to get creative. It's all led to a bullpen game, with Latz set to go multiple innings before the Rangers' relievers take over. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Latz has looked fine out of the bullpen, but does he have the ability to hold up in a rotation, facing an MLB lineup? The Rangers also will be taking close note of everything that goes into being a starting pitcher, the preparation, the stamina, the mix of pitches, as contrasted with being a reliever. The Nationals' lineup and how this affects the game The Washington Nationals come into this set at 30-34 and are searching for a bit of rhythm with the bats. Latz has been part of an up-and-down offense this season, so that was likely why the Rangers decided to gamble with a bullpen game and him. The Rangers are hoping that having Latz start first will throw the Nationals off with his unfamiliarity as a starter and have them make adjustments to a hitter who has had a hard time in relief. The test for the Nationals will be early adjustments and finding any weaknesses. Latz will present as a starter. Should the Nationals find a way to score a few early runs, it would put tremendous pressure on the Rangers' bullpen as this game progresses. Is it a calculated risk or a desperate gamble? Starting Jacob Latz on Sunday was a necessity for the Texas Rangers, but one that also highlights some strategic innovation. Injuries have battered their rotation, and the Rangers hardly have any other option but to rely on their bullpen depth. He continues to give the team hope based on recent performances, but a longer audition could test his stamina and resilience. Also Read: Texas Rangers could be eyeing a managerial change this winter- Report All in all, this is one part calculated risk and one part reckless gamble. The Rangers may gain a significant victory if Latz can provide several solid innings. But if the Nationals can take advantage of Latz having little experience as a starter, that could backfire on the Rangers. As the battle starts tonight, all eyes will be on the bullpen, Jacob Latz, and how the Rangers' game strategy plays out against the in-form Nationals.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Texas Rangers could be eyeing a managerial change this winter- Report
Image Source: Getty Recent reports suggest that the Texas Rangers are exploring the possibility of moving on from a manager after the 2025 season. Nothing is official on that front, but inside the walls of Arlington, this way of messaging all but signals that they're preparing to do life after Bruce Bochy, the Hall‑of‑Fame–bound skipper whose contract runs through this season. USA Today scribe Bob Nightengale wrote that Bochy 'is expected to call it a Hall of Fame career after the season, but also is remaining open-minded.' Eplsports365 also attributed to Bochy as "nearing the end of his contract, a usual mayor mentions possible retirement" . Collectively, those signals suggest that both sides might now be prepared for a change in the dugout. Texas Rangers reportedly planning for succession behind the scenes The Rangers are proactively developing a long-term succession plan behind the bench, well before the 2025 campaign concludes. The front office hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior adviser to the president of baseball operations, Chris Young, in a dip earlier this year, a move viewed by many as laying the groundwork for a successor. Schumaker won the 2023 NL Manager of the Year award and is considered one of the bright young managers in baseball, and someone many might consider the natural successor if Bochy walks away. Although the speculation surrounding potential trade candidates swirls, general manager Chris Young has publicly expressed appreciation and willingness to embrace either scenario. Buster Olney wrote, for ESPN, that the Rangers would "welcome Bochy back with open arms" if Bochy wanted to continue beyond 2025; at the same time, they would also not be surprised if Bochy decided to retire. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like In Rajasthan, Everyone's Switching to This New Mosquito Fix Mosquito Eliminator Read More Undo What's next for Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers? Neither of those two does, which means Bruce Bochy's next step involves navigating his way through this year's version of the damnable postseason. Bochy has three World Series championship rings. He was the manager who led the Giants to three World Series championship rings. The 2023 season marked the first title ever for Texas. He will turn 70 next April. He enters this season still motivated (the Rangers finished 78–84) but also weathered by two hard-fought and ultimately fruitless seasons. One in which the Hall of Fame is a likely destination for Bochy, but one in which there are more questions than answers as to whether Bochy has one more run in him, or whether the pendulum of two long seasons has worn him down enough to bring it all to a halt. Also Read: Bruce Bochy makes MLB history with 2,195th win as Texas Rangers beat Houston Astros The looming offseason, though, is about more than just simply choosing to keep or shed contracts for Texas fans. Which represents a choice between keeping a beloved manager around longer or moving on to the new phase with Schumaker or some other rising name. Regardless of what path Bochy chooses, the Rangers seem ready, focused on both keeping their championship DNA and looking ahead.
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- The Hindu
Exclusion of Arunachal weightlifter from Commonwealth trials slammed
GUWAHATI The Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) and other organisations in the State have slammed the exclusion of weightlifter Sambo Lapung, a consistent gold medal winner, from the trials for the Commonwealth Championships 2025. Lapung appealed to the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) a few days ago, requesting a chance to participate in the trials scheduled for June 13-14, but his plea was rejected. In a letter to Indian Olympic Association president P.T. Usha on June 5, AOA secretary general Bamang Tago sought justice for Lapung, who was allegedly ignored to accommodate Harshit Sehrawat of Haryana. A copy of the letter was sent to Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Director General of the Sports Authority of India. Lapung hails from the East Kameng district, which falls under the Arunachal West parliamentary constituency represented by Mr Rijiju. 'Lapung, a three-time national gold medallist and record holder, has consistently dominated the 96 kg category, securing gold at the Senior National Weightlifting Championships held in Chandigarh (2022), Itanagar (2023), and Himachal Pradesh (2024). His outstanding performances include lifting 338 kg in the 2023 Nationals, outperforming his closest competitors, including Harshit Sehrawat, who secured silver with a total of 328 kg,' Mr Tago wrote. 'Despite this, the IWF released a selection list that excluded Lapung from the 94 kg category trials, while selecting Sehrawat, typically a 102 kg lifter, based on his silver medal performance at the Inter Railways Championship (335 kg). This selection, bypassing a reigning national champion who has repeatedly outperformed the selected athlete in direct competition, has raised serious concerns over transparency, meritocracy, and possible regional bias,' he wrote. Later, Mr Tago told reporters that Sehrawat could have been favoured because his father is a coach or because of the State he hails from. 'This matter is not only about one individual. It reflects a growing pattern of underrepresentation and neglect of athletes from the northeastern region in national-level selections. Talents such as Sambo Lapung, Kojum Taba, Jimjang Deru, and Soram Hitler Tagru have brought pride to the country. Yet, their efforts are too often overlooked during crucial opportunities,' he said. The East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organisation also criticised the IWF for ignoring Lapung and sought the intervention of Mr Rijiju. The organisation said Lapung's exclusion not only undermines his achievements but also wounds the sentiments of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the region beyond. 'This decision reinforces a recurring pattern of perceived stereotyping and discrimination against athletes from our region in mainland India,' its chairperson, Raya Flago, said.
