According to Anthony Andro, yes.
↵↵↵Manager Ron Washington said Tuesday that the team planned to give the Game 4 ball to Cliff Lee in the American League Division Series. That’s changed as of now. The new plan is for Tommy Hunter to start Game 4 in Arlington, and not pitch Lee on three days rest.
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Hopefully this is just a bit of gamesmanship, because, otherwise, it makes almost no sense whatsoever. I’d bet everything I ever own that if you throw Cliff Lee into a game on three days' rest 100 times, he’s better than Tommy Hunter (on any rest) in at least 51 of those starts. Do you disagree? If not, then it’s pretty obvious Lee should be starting game four.
↵Further, if you start Lee in game four, you can start the game two starter (Lewis or Wilson) in game five on normal rest. And they are also both better than Tommy Hunter.
↵Additionally, the game four starter can start game one of the ALCS on normal rest, as well. Making it even smarter to pitch Lee in game four (if it gets that far).
↵Andro says it can change. Hopefully that means it will change and the Rangers don’t want to commit to anything publicly, because I can’t find any angle where it makes sense to go with Tommy Hunter instead of C.J. Wilson or Colby Lewis. Especially if it impacts the second round negatively.
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