When the Texas Rangers start the 2012 playoffs -- whether that's Friday in a wild-card game or this weekend in the ALDS -- 26-year-old Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish will be on the mound. Manager Ron Washington confirmed that choice before Wednesday's game with the Oakland A's that will determine the AL West. Darvish, signed this offseason after the Rangers won the bidding rights for him and invested a total of about $107 million to get him in a Texas uniform, will be making his first postseason start. The rookie is 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA in 29 starts. He's thrown 191 1/3 innings and is third in the AL with 221 strikeouts. Opponents have hit just .220 against him. Darvish, who had a start skipped last week because of a stiff neck, is healthy and ready to go. He pitched Sunday and the neck felt fine as he gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings for his eighth consecutive quality start in a no-decision against the Angels. Source: ESPN
It'll be Friday. Rangers are the first team to spend the most days in first place and not win the division since the divisional era started. they could be the first ones to spend that many games in 1st, lose the division..and also be knocked out of the playoffs in the WC round too.
