CHICAGO – Quick question: Who has the most starts and innings pitched among Texas Rangers pitchers in the Bruce Bochy era?
Surprise: It’s Andrew Heaney.
On Wednesday, Heaney did not get the win in the Rangers’ 3-1 win over Chicago in the afternoon because the game was technically stopped after four pitches on Tuesday. Heaney was supposed to start Tuesday and was warming up before rain began to fall at game time. Because he had warmed up Tuesday, the Rangers offered him the chance to sit out Wednesday’s game. Heaney declined. He showed up. And pitched. That’s what he’s done for the Rangers for two seasons. He may not have any Cy Young Awards on his resume or set a postseason record for wins like other members of the rotation, but he’s been reliable.
Heaney’s start was his 54th in the last two years, and he pushed his innings total to 281 2/3, giving him a slight edge over Thursday’s scheduled starter Nathan Eovaldi, who has 277 in 48 starts. Considering Heaney has been asked to pitch as a relief pitcher on occasion, the statistical edge is quite remarkable.
And Bochy is aware of this.
“I’m a big believer in reliability,” Bochy said. “Guys that can get it out there are important. We’re lucky to have him. He’s done everything we’ve asked. We’ve asked him to help out. Sometimes we haven’t given him the extra day we’ve given others. He says, ‘I’m ready to go.’ Last night he got hot and he says, ‘No, I’m ready to go (Wednesday).’ He’s a good team player and he’s resilient.”
It could also help change the story of Heaney, who had started more than 18 games in a season only once in his career before last year. He missed significant parts of the 2016-19 seasons due to elbow problems.
Heaney, who is a free agent at the end of the season, has been the Rangers’ unlucky man this year. Although he is tied with Chris Flexen, the White Sox reliever who finished the suspended game, for the most losses in the major leagues with 13, he has often been the victim of poor run support. The Rangers scored just one run in five innings against him on Wednesday. It was the 19th time in his 26 starts that they failed to score at least three runs with him. Only four times have they managed more than three runs. Despite a 4-13 record, Heaney has a sub-4.00 ERA at 3.95.
“Earlier in my career, I had a reputation for not staying healthy,” Heaney said. “So, yeah, I take pride in that. I’m going to take the ball and do whatever the team needs to win. Last year, in a season where we were obviously in the playoff race, I was moved to the bullpen because that’s what the team needed. This year, it was a little different. It was a situation where I had to take the ball every five days and be the starter that can go out there and be reliable, and I know you can sign my name and know I’m ready to go at any time.”
For more Rangers coverage from the Dallas Morning News, click here.
Click or tap here to subscribe to our Rangers newsletter.
