Kolby Allard to start for Texas Rangers Friday

The Texas Rangers are calling up Kolby Allard, the lefthanded pitcher acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Chris Martin trade, to start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, August 9, 2019, per the beat guys. Adrian Sampson is reportedly moving to the bullpen.

This isn’t really a surprise — while Sampson was solid in the early part of the season, he has cratered of late, allowing 27 runs in 20.2 IP over his last five starts. The Rangers moved him to the bullpen around the All Star Break, with Jesse Chavez taking his spot in the rotation, but they flip-flopped after Chavez got hammered as a starter.

The real question has been who would come up from the minors and join the rotation, with Allard, Joe Palumbo and Brock Burke all likely to be getting starts before the season is over. Allard, 21, is a finesse lefty who threw 5 shutout innings with 8 Ks and just 2 walks in his one start for Nashville after the trade. He has a 4.17 ERA in 110 IP in the International League this year from his time with the Braves, with 98 Ks against 36 walks.

The remainder of the rotation is Mike Minor, Lance Lynn, Pedro Payano and Ariel Jurado. Lynn and Minor aren’t going anywhere, but Payano and Jurado could end up getting bumped for Palumbo and Burke before the season is up.