Both right-handers have held that perspective since Day One of camp. Both have struggled at times this spring, with Gonzalez also allowing six runs Monday in a Triple A game. He was unhappy with his slider, which lacked the required bite for strikeouts.
Chi Chi Gonzalez allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings Saturday against the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Video by Stefan Stevenson/Star-Telegram).
I was jamming a ton of guys, which was great, but I need some punchouts. I haven’t gotten any yet, and that would help me out a ton. I need to figure out what pitch to throw to get a strikeout.
Martinez, meanwhile, has allowed nine earned runs in three appearances (7 2/3 innings).
But none of that will matter if either performs well in his last few outings. The focus from Brocail, among others, will sharpen, and the pitchers understand what’s at stake.
Martinez is expected to throw four to five innings Sunday.
Rangers ace Yu Darvish is scheduled to increase his pitch count to 30 in his next bullpen session Monday morning.
Darvish looked “really good” during an 18-pitch session Saturday, Brocail said. Darvish was limited to 15 to 20 pitches because he was throwing on one day’s rest. He threw 25 pitches Thursday.
Yu Darvish is expected to throw 30-pitch bullpen session for the first time Monday. Pitching coach Doug Brocail wants 23-25 of those to be fastballs to help build strength in his arm.
Brocail originally scheduled Darvish to take two days off and increase his pitch count on Sunday. But Darvish wasn’t happy with his Thursday session, which followed three days off. He told Brocail he no longer wanted that many days off between sessions as the time off had him feeling lethargic on the mound.
Pitching coach Doug Brocail said Yu Darvish threw his best slider this spring during an 18-pitch bullpen session Saturday morning (Video by Stefan Stevenson/Star-Telegram).
Brocail wants Darvish to focus on letting loose with his fastball Monday to help build strength in his arm. Brocail said Monday’s session will be “lengthy.” Darvish will face hitters once he hits 50-55 pitches, and he could reach that as early as March 27 or 28.
▪ Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie is scheduled to pitch Monday, a day later than expected. Brocail said Guthrie was pushed back because of a backlog of starting pitchers needing innings.
▪ Reliever Luke Jackson is scheduled to throw off a full mound Tuesday for the first time since he was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his lower back March 2. He’ll throw off a half-mound Sunday.
▪ First baseman Ike Davis (mild knee sprain) said he’s feeling better and hopes to be cleared to play in a week. He last played March 8.