RHP Gonzalez set for Rangers debut at Atlanta

The Texas Rangers certainly dont view Miguel Gonzalez as a replacement for Yu Darvish as they try to stay alive in the American League wild-card race.When you say Darvish and replace, Im not sure you do that with just anybody, Texas manager Jeff Banister said.It hard to replace Darvish and what he was able to do for us. The Rangers, though, view Gonzalez as a welcome addition to a rotation weakened with the trade of pending free agent Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the July deadline. They will send Gonzalez, a veteran right-hander, to the mound for the first time Tuesday night when they face the Atlanta Braves.Article continues below ... Gonzalez, who was pitching well of late for the Chicago White Sox, will take over the fourth spot in the rotation, with A https://www.rangersproteamstore.com/Rangers_Custom_Jersey-6.J. Griffin and Nick Martinez going to the bullpen until a fifth starter is needed next week. Gonzalez was 2-0 with a 1.85 ERA in his last five starts before the trade, tossing six scoreless innings in a 3-2 victory over the Rangers on Aug. 20. Texas sent minor league infielder TiQuan Forbes to the White Sox to acquire him.He was a guy we had seen and targeted, Banister said of Gonzalez.We liked the stuff, we liked the arm, we liked the pitch-ability. He was available to us, so were going to insert him into the rotation and see how he fits. Gonzalez spent a month on the disabled list with shoulder tightness, but he made nine starts for the White Sox since his return https://www.rangersproteamstore.com/Rangers_Hanser_Alberto_Jersey-221.He been throwing very well the last couple of months, Texas general manager John Daniels said after making the deal. Gonzalez, 33, has never faced the Braves, but he is 4-6 with a 3.59 ERA in 15 interleague games.It going to be fun. Im excited, Gonzalez said of pitching in meaningful contests down the stretch.Every game is going to count. Julio Teheran will start for the Braves opposite Gonzalez, making his first start at SunTrust Park since snapping a nine-game home losing streak with a victory over the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 25. Teheran followed that up with a win at Philadelphia on Wednesday. He allowed just three runs over 14 innings in the two starts while regaining a better feel for his slider. The right-hander, projected as the Braves ace, had dropped five consecutive decisions before the two-game winning streak.I have confidence in my slider again, Teheran said.You want to do good at home Tony Barnette Jersey, and I think Ill be better the rest of the season. Teheran has faced the Rangers just once, taking a loss in 2014 despite going eight innings. He gave up three runs on three hits while striking out six and walking one. Texas has won 16 of its past 25 games including an 8-2 victory over the Braves on Monday, to get back into wild-card contention. The Rangers trail the Minnesota Twins by two games in the chase for the second American League wild card. Atlanta is 15-31 since reaching .500 on July 16, going 6-15 at home during the swoon.