Suddenly, MacKenzie Gore is the Rangers ace. Well, if not ace, he’s their number one starter. 

Jacob deGrom is injured, so is Nathan Eovaldi. Kumar Rocker is still a work in progress, as is injured Jack Leiter. Cal Quantrill is a long-reliever pressed into starter duty because of the rotation woes.

Cody Bradford has pitched only two games since coming off the I.L. after missing nearly two years. 

So it’s Gore by default. Last night he pitched his usual game. A five innings, three earned runs. That’s a 5.40 ERA. He actually went 5.2 innings, unable to get out of that sixth inning, and left the game with a 4-3 lead which the Rangers bullpen held.

With the win, Gore improved his record to 7-9 with a 4.45 ERA. That is the Rangers ace. That is the arm that is going to have to ride the Rangers into the playoffs, which, with last night’s 5-3 win over Sacramento, moved the Rangers into the third wildcard spot. 

It’s such a season of mediocrity and less. Their “ace” has an ERA on its way to 5.00. Their superstar hitter is batting .203. The Rangers are under .500 and still very much in the playoff race.

It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad and unnecessary. 

*****