MLB odds: Rangers hand closer role to Guardado

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

A few days ago, Rangers manager Ron Washington said closer C.J. Wilson’s job was safe. Funny how injuries can crop up to officially save a player from a demotion.

Texas placed closer C.J. Wilson on the 15-day DL with bone spurs in his left elbow. Maybe it’s coincidence or not, but the news comes after Wilson surrendered an eighth inning grand slam to Richie Sexson in an 8-6 win over the Yankees on Tuesday.

The left-hander was charged with all four runs in the inning, as he also walked Bobby Abreu and Xavier Nady and plunked Alex Rodriguez with a pitch while retiring only one batter.

"He was throwing 93 (miles per hour) but effectiveness has got to be part of it," Washington said.

Wilson has a 7.71 ERA since the All-Star break and a 9.35 ERA in his past 10 games. He also has two blown saves on the Rangers’ current homestand. Wilson was in a non-save situation Tuesday to work out some mechanical problems with his delivery. After the game, Wilson admitted the elbow has been bothering him, and he'll fly to Los Angeles on Wednesday to be checked out by Dr. Lewis Yocum for the possibility of surgery.

"I tried to pitch through it for a while," Wilson said. "I can't do the team much good unless I get healthy. We've been trying to treat it for the last couple of days and it hasn't worked."

Washington announced that Eddie Guardado will be the Rangers' primary closer in Wilson's absence. Guardado has closed before (186 career saves), and he's been impressive of late – he picked up his third save in as many chances Tuesday. He has a 2.08 ERA in his past 25 games and has not allowed a run in 23 of those. Overall this season, the lefty is 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 50 appearances.

 

“It's a learning experience for him," Guardado said of Wilson. "His first year as a full-time closer, there's a lot of pressure on him, no doubt about it. He's learning every time he goes out there and toes the rubber. He'll take his lumps, but he learns from them."

The Rangers look to beat the Yankees again on Wednesday but are +115 underdogs on WagerWeb.com.