Spencer Patton recalled, Derek Holland available out of bullpen

With the Texas Rangers running out of available pitchers in the bullpen, the team has announced that righthanded reliever Spencer Patton has been recalled from AAA Round Rock.

Patton will be joined in the bullpen today by Derek Holland, who will be available to be used in relief today if necessary.

The Rangers are most likely without righthanders Chi Chi Gonzalez, Sam Dyson, Shawn Tolleson and Keone Kela today.  Chi Chi is a starter who has been used as a long man the last month, and after pitching yesterday, the Rangers likely won't ask him to pitch again today.  Kela is dealing with an elbow problem that has kept him out of action quite a bit of late, and the team is looking to avoid using him on back-to-back days, particularly after he said yesterday he couldn't go anymore in yesterday's game because of his elbow.

Dyson and Tolleson have each pitched in five straight games, and while Dyson got the job done yesterday, Tolleson had his third straight bad outing, giving up back-to-back home runs to the only two batters he faced in the 9th before being pulled for Ross Ohlendorf.

Jeff Banister's bullpen usage has raised some eyebrows among those who follow the team, and his heavy riding of key pitchers means that, if Cole Hamels can't go all 9 innings, he's likely going to have to go with some players outside of his Tree of Trust.  Hopefully, it won't be necessary to turn to Patton, or Holland, today, but it is good to know they are available if needed.

UPDATE -- For what it is worth:

Keone Kela says he's available today.

— Stefan Stevenson (@StevensonFWST) October 4, 2015