No. 7 prospect Palumbo to debut Saturday

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are planning to pitch left-hander Joe Palumbo in the first game of their doubleheader against the Athletics on Saturday.

Palumbo, the No. 7 prospect in the Rangers system, will be making his Major League debut, and this may not necessarily be just a spot start because of the doubleheader. Manager Chris Woodward hinted at the possibility that a strong outing by Palumbo could make him part of the Rangers' immediate future as well as their long-term plans.

“You never know,” Woodward said. “If he dominates the Oakland A’s, him being left-handed with a predominantly right-handed lineup, if he were to pitch pretty well against that team, it may show enough for us to consider at some point [him] becoming one of our rotation guys.”

Palumbo has made nine starts and one long relief appearance for Double-A Frisco. He did not register a decision but owns a 3.38 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP and .222 opponents’ batting average. He is averaging 7.3 hits, 4.3 walks and 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

“If it’s only one start, great,” Woodward said. “It’s a good experience for him. We are not asking him to take on the fifth spot for the rest of the year. He has been throwing the ball pretty well. He has been throwing strikes and his command has been good.”

The vulnerable spot in the rotation is the one being held by Drew Smyly, who is in line to pitch Sunday against Oakland. Smyly missed two years while recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery and has struggled to regain his effectiveness as a starter. He is 1-4 with a 7.93 ERA in eight starts and two relief appearances.

Smyly has struck out 8.8 batters per nine innings, which is slightly above his career ratio of 8.7, but he has also allowed 10.5 hits and 6.2 walks per nine.

“He is pitching Sunday,” Woodward said. “We have had good conversations with Smyly, trying to get him back to the form he has had in the past. We are trying to address some things and find solutions to why things haven’t gone well and why they have. He has been really honest with us. We feel we are getting back on the right track. We’ll see how it goes on Sunday.”

Palumbo, 24, was a 30th-round pick out of high school for the Rangers in 2013 whose career was derailed early in the 2016 season because of Tommy John surgery. He made a strong return late last season by going 2-4 with a 2.78 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 11 starts at three different levels.

The Rangers decided on Game 1 because it appears to be a less-pressurized situation. The Rangers are retiring former third baseman Adrian Beltre’s uniform before Game 2 and a large crowd is expected. Adrian Sampson will start that game.

“I don’t want to do that to the kid,” Woodward said. “Not that he couldn’t handle it, but it makes sense to pitch Sampson in that game.”

Choo out of lineup
Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was out of the Rangers' lineup Thursday with a bruised left hand. He was hit by a pitch in that spot in the 12th inning Wednesday, right before Delino DeShields delivered a game-winning single off Orioles pitcher Paul Fry.

The Rangers aren’t leaning toward putting Choo on the injured list, but Woodward would like to stay away from him for a day or two.

“He’s pretty tough, but it hurts him to swing,” Woodward said. “He said he could play if he needed to, but I’d rather stay away from him.”

Rangers beat:
• Rangers broadcaster Eric Nadel has been elected to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. The induction's date and location are to be determined. He will be joined by two other broadcasters who had shorter stints with the Rangers: Brad Sham and Bill Mercer.

• Outfielder Willie Calhoun, who is on the injured list with a strained left quad muscle, has been running the bases and is expected to start a medical rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

• Reliever Matt Bush, who is recovering from surgery in September to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, has thrown two innings in extended Spring Training games in Arizona. Bush is hoping to be fully recovered at some point after the All-Star break.