With the likelihood of George Kirby starting the season on the IL increasing with every passing day, each Emerson Hancock start takes on extra importance, especially today’s, where he faced the lefty-heavy, offensive powerhouse of the AL West rival Rangers. Hancock outdueled Rangers ace Jacob deGrom, striking out one more batter, issuing one fewer walk, and giving up one fewer run than the All-Star in the opposite dugout.
The one run Hancock gave up was a mistake pitch in an 0-2 count to Corey Seager. Hancock tried to sneak a slider past Seager that wound up in his red zone, and then wound up deposited on the berm in right field.