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Yu Darvish will start Game 1

Ron Washington announced the Japanese import would get the call for the Rangers first playoff game on Wednesday.

Jim Cowsert-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

As of Wednesday morning, the Rangers don't know whether they'll be starting the playoffs in a wild-card game on Friday or the ALDS on Saturday.

Either way, they do know who will be taking the mound in the biggest game of the year, as Ron Washington announced on Wednesday that Yu Darvish would start their first post-season game.

Darvish has had a solid debut in his first season in the US, with a 16-9 record and a 3.90 ERA in 191 innings.

He's also picked up his play over the last month-and-a-half, with a 5-1 record and a 2.35 ERA in his last eight starts.

In 2011, Colby Lewis (on the disabled list) and C.J. Wilson (in Anaheim) were the Rangers first two post-season starters, but the team decided to pursue Darvish instead of Wilson in free agency.

Matt Harrison, who made his first All-Star team in 2012, will likely be the second pitcher in the Texas rotation.

However, if Texas ends up in the play-in game and Darvish doesn't pitch well, that may be an academic issue.

The 26-year old righthander has plenty of experience in big-games situations from his time in Japan. He's flirted with greatness at times in his rookie year in the majors, and Rangers fans will have to hope he can raise his game in October.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.