SAN DIEGO -- With 15 games to go in the regular season, Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister is making things complicated.
On Friday night at Petco Park, Banister decided to follow a trend and use an "opener" to start the first game of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. Right-hander Connor Sadzeck worked a scoreless first inning before turning the game over to scheduled starter Yohander Mendez, who pitched the next five innings of a five-hit Texas shutout.
It was hinted that left-hander Jeffrey Springs would be the "opener" Saturday for the second straight time in front of scheduled right-handed starter Ariel Jurado (2-5, 7.