Merrill Kelly to make Rangers debut in key game vs. Mariners

With a rotation featuring the lowest ERA (3.25) in the major leagues, another starter didn't figure to be a priority for the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline.

But they got one anyway.

Right-hander Merrill Kelly (9-6, 3.22 ERA) was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for three pitching prospects and is scheduled to make his Rangers debut Saturday afternoon in a key American League West matchup at Seattle.

"Anytime you have a chance to add somebody of Merrill Kelly's stature to a rotation (you do it)," Rangers general manager Ross Fenstermaker said. "We're thinking about how this plays, not only for the rest of the season, but into the postseason. He is somebody with a pedigree that fits right in. We're fortifying what has been a strength for us this year and continuing to build upon that as we try to complete this roster."

Texas originally had Jacob de Grom slated to start Saturday, but pushed him back to Sunday's finale of the four-game series after getting Kelly, who most recently pitched last Saturday. Kelly took a 2-0 loss at Pittsburgh despite allowing just one earned over 6 2/3 innings.

The Rangers, who have dropped eight straight games in Seattle, hope Kelly can duplicate his June 9 start against the Mariners, when he pitched six scoreless frames in a game the host Diamondbacks won 8-4 in 11 innings. Kelly is 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts against Seattle.

The Rangers have dropped the first two games of the series. They missed a chance to move into a tie with the Mariners for both second place in the division and the league's third and final wild-card spot Friday night when J.P. Crawford hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to win it 4-3.

"There's nothing you do now; it's over," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said of the loss. "You can go back tomorrow, and you got to play a game, play baseball, and you know, they bounce back very well and they'll put this behind them ... come out and win a ballgame tomorrow. That's all you can do. You have no choice."

The Rangers' other deadline acquisitions, relievers Danny Coulombe and Phil Maton, each pitched a scoreless inning Friday.

"Well, did a great job, didn't they? Both had nice outings there," Bochy said. "Phil didn't pitch in about a week, but he went out there and got it done. Danny, he did a nice job, and the bullpen did a great job."

At least, until Robert Garcia blew the save in the ninth, allowing a leadoff single to Dominic Canzone before Crawford's blast to right field.

"You just never give up," Crawford said. "The game's not over until there's three outs in the ninth. We showed a lot of heart. This team has a lot of fight, and that's what we do."

Right-hander Luis Castillo (8-6, 3.19 ERA), who has won four of his past five starts, is scheduled to take the mound Saturday for the Mariners. Castillo went seven innings Monday against the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif., giving up one run on five hits in a 3-1 victory.

Castillo is 2-3 with a 3.26 ERA in seven previous starts against Texas. He has faced the Rangers twice this season, both on the road, without a decision. On May 3, he allowed one run over six innings in a game Seattle won 2-1. He did the same June 29, when the M's outlasted the hosts 6-4 in 12 innings.

--Field Level Media