Max Scherzer Scratched From Saturday's Lineup, Dane Dunning Starting
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (undisclosed) will not pitch Saturday evening, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The veteran was scheduled to get the starting nod against the Seattle Mariners this evening but will cede duties to Dane Dunning instead. Grant reports that the move seems to be injury-related, but there are no clear details yet. Fantasy managers should look on the waiver wire this weekend to find a replacement for Scherzer in case he is unable to pitch during the final week. The 40-year-old has dealt with numerous shoulder injuries this summer and has logged only 43 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.95 and a 1.15 WHIP. Dunning is worth a look as a streaming option and in DFS this evening, as the Mariners are holding a cumulative 25.8% K rate against right-handers this season.
Texas Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday. Dunning has had a very underwhelming year for the Rangers, posting a career high 5.38 ERA in just 90.1 innings pitched. That would be the fewest amount of innings Dunning has pitched in a season since joining the Rangers in 2021. The 29-year-old has mainly been used out of the bullpen in the second half of the season, making just two starts since being moved to the bullpen in late June. He's also been dealing with a shoulder injury he sustained in July. With his 6.86 ERA in August, and the Rangers well out of the playoff picture, Dunning simply wasn't going to keep his spot on the club. Fantasy managers needing help with relief pitchers should turn to Rangers reliever Kirby Yates, who has posted a 2.08 ERA and recorded six saves over the last 30 days.
Texas Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning is making the start on Monday in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. This will be Dunning's 14th start of the season and his second in a row after he had been moved to the bullpen. In his last start on Aug. 14 against the Boston Red Sox, he allowed four earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out three in five innings for a no-decision. Before that start, he hadn't started a game for Texas since June 16. The 29-year-old is getting a Pirates team that has really struggled of late, but he still won't provide much upside for fantasy managers as a streamer. In his 21 appearances (13 starts) this year, Dunning has pitched to a 4.92 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP and a 22.4% strikeout rate. His 10.5% walk rate is the highest of his career.
Texas Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning will make the start on Wednesday versus the hosting Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in the series finale. Dunning opened the year in Texas' starting rotation but then got hurt. His last eight appearances for the Rangers have come out of the bullpen, and he hasn't started a game since June 16 against the Seattle Mariners, when he gave up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings in a loss. The 29-year-old did go four innings in relief on Aug. 6 versus the Houston Astros, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to go deep enough in Wednesday's start to qualify for a win. The matchup in Boston isn't a great one, either, and Dunning has been pretty mediocre overall with a 4-7 record, 4.77 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 78 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings in 2024 over 20 outings (12 starts). You should be able to find better streaming options in fantasy.
The Texas Rangers activated right-hander Dane Dunning (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Thursday and optioned right-hander Gerson Garabito to Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move. As long as Dunning continues to pitch in a relief role for the Rangers, he can be ignored in mixed fantasy leagues. The 29-year-old former 29th overall pick by the Washington Nationals in 2016 out of Florida started the year as a starter in Texas' rotation but was moved to the bullpen in the first half before he injured his shoulder a month ago. Dunning made two minor-league rehab appearances and should occupy a middle-relief role for the Rangers now that he's back. In 15 appearances (12 starts) in 2024, he has gone 4-7 with a 4.71 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with a career-high 25.8% strikeout rate in 65 innings pitched.
Texas Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning will move to the bullpen to make room in the rotation for the return of Max Scherzer, according to skipper Bruce Bochy. The Rangers will go with a five-man rotation consisting of Nathan Eovaldi, Scherzer, Michael Lorenzen, Jon Gray, and Andrew Heaney for the time being. Dunning sports a 4.73 ERA in 12 starts spanning 59 innings on the season but he also owns a 3.89 xFIP and a 3.96 SIERA while his 26.7% K% stands as a career-high, even with an 11.6% BB% that is a career-worst figure. Fantasy managers can safely cut bait for the time being as Dunning is likely bound for a multi-inning, middle-relief role but he could factor into the rotation should a member of the team's rotation scuffle moving forward.
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that right-hander Dane Dunning (shoulder) will be ready to come off the injured list and start on Wednesday in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Dunning is making his return from a right rotator-cuff strain that put him on the injured list earlier this month. The 29-year-old didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment and has gone beyond five innings just twice (in his first two starts) so far in 2024, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting him to go very deep in one of the tougher matchups in his return on Wednesday. The former 29th overall pick by the Washington Nationals in 2016 out of Florida has a decent 4.10 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings over his seven starts. Dunning has a 48.9% hard-hit rate but also a strong 31% whiff rate, making him a pretty polarizing fantasy asset.
Nathan Eovaldi, Dane Dunning Throwing Bullpen Sessions Sunday
Texas Rangers starting pitchers Nathan Eovaldi (groin) and Dane Dunning (shoulder) are both scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Sunday, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Assuming all goes well, Dunning may return to the Rangers' starting rotation at some point this week. The 29-year-old is a viable streaming option in the right matchups and owns a 4.10 ERA through seven starts in 2024. Eovaldi's return is a little more unclear as he continues to progress through his recovery. The 34-year-old is worthy of being stashed in the majority of formats as he was off to a strong start prior to the injury.
Dane Dunning, Nathan Eovaldi Throwing Bullpen Sessions
Texas Rangers right-handers Dane Dunning (shoulder) and Nathan Eovaldi (groin) were scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Friday. If all goes well with Dunning's bullpen, he could return from the injured list next week to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies. Dunning was put on the 15-day injured list on May 8 with a strained right rotator cuff, but he also threw a bullpen on Tuesday and is approaching his return to the starting rotation. He's been up and down so far this year and would make for an extremely shaky streaming option without going on a minor-league rehab assignment if he faces the Phillies next week. Eovaldi's bullpen will mark his first time throwing off the mound since suffering a right-groin strain on May 3. The 34-year-old isn't going to come off the IL when eligible on Saturday, but the hard-throwing right-hander deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues after his strong start to 2024.
Texas Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and looks as though he could return quickly from his injured-list stint. This was Dunning's first bullpen session since going on the 15-day injured list on May 8 with a right rotator-cuff strain. If the 29-year-old doesn't have any setbacks after throwing a couple of bullpen sessions, he could be ready to return to the Rangers when he's eligible to return next Monday. Before landing on the shelf, Dunning opened the year 3-2 with a 4.10 ERA (4.88 FIP) and 1.15 WHIP while walking 17 and striking out 43 in 37 1/3 innings over his seven starts. Dunning has been successful with a high whiff rate so far this year, but he's also allowing lots of hard contact, which makes him a volatile fantasy option as a streamer when he's back in Texas' rotation.
