Rangers Bolster Bullpen with Dane Dunning’s Return
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers bolstered their bullpen on Tuesday with the return of right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning from Triple-A Round Rock, following four consecutive games that extended into extra innings.
The team placed outfielder Evan Carter on the three-day bereavement list, allowing Dunning’s return just five days after being sent to the minors.
The 1908 Detroit Tigers are the only Major League team to have played five consecutive extra-inning games since 1901, according to data from the Elias Sports Bureau.
Texas is 1-3 during this stretch of games that extend beyond nine innings, losing two of three against Seattle before falling 10-6 in 11 innings against Baltimore in the first game of the series on Monday night.
It’s the second time since they moved to Texas that the Rangers have gone to extra innings in four consecutive games. This occurred in the four games of a series in Seattle in 2002.
The Rangers sent right-handed pitcher Cole Winn to Round Rock and transferred right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle to the 60-day injured list due to a strain in his right rotator cuff. Outfielder Billy McKinney was promoted from Round Rock.
McKinney appeared in the majors for seven consecutive seasons with seven different teams from 2018 to 2024. The 30-year-old player is set to debut with Texas after growing up in the Dallas area.
Dunning has been an opener and reliever in five seasons with the Rangers. With deGrom scheduled to pitch against the Orioles, Texas manager Bruce Bochy indicated that Dunning would be available to pitch as many innings as necessary.
Dunning, 30 years old, has made two relief appearances this season. He started 102 of his first 124 major league appearances, beginning with the Chicago White Sox in 2020.
Mahle, who has an effectiveness of 2.34, the best of his career, with a 6-3 record, last pitched on June 10. The 30-year-old player would be eligible to return in early August. Mahle said his rotator cuff has shown improvement in the three weeks he has been out.
