Dunning was placed on the paternity list Saturday.
Dunning will be away from the team for up to three days as he and his wife welcome their newborn baby. Considering he'd been slated slated to start Sunday against the Orioles, the Rangers will likely have to call up a new arm to toe the rubber or skip Dunning in the rotation.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: One out away from quality start
Rotowire
Dunning did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing one run on six hits and three walks over 5.2 innings during a 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. He struck out three.
Dunning was able to work around trouble for the most part, allowing just one run on a fielder's choice in the second, but he was pulled in the bottom of the sixth with two outs after letting back-to-back hitters reach. Dunning began the season as a reliever but has moved into the rotation recently and submitted impressive results. He's allowed two or fewer runs and completed at least five innings in each of his four starts, posting a 1.59 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB across 22.2 innings. Dunning figures to remain in the rotation as long as he's able to continue his strong play.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Sleeper pitchers for Week 9 (May 22-28)
Rotowire
Dane Dunning still boasts a 1.69 ERA and 0.88 WHIP despite his 5.5 K/9. It seems unsustainable but has continued long enough (and against lineups like the Angels and Braves) for you to give him the benefit of the doubt in a two-start week.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
If you want me to explain how Dunning has been this good, then I'm sorry to disappoint, but I can't. What I can say is that anyone still boasting a 1.69 ERA and 0.88 WHIP after nearly 40 innings must be doing something right, even if the stuff is marginal and the strikeouts (5.5 K/9) are lacking. It's not a profile I would normally bet on, but Statcast isn't in total disbelief, putting his expected ERA at 3.50. Maybe that's ultimately what Dunning regresses to, but even so, with a top offense backing him, it's possible he could be something like this year's Miles Mikolas. He just held the mighty Braves to one run in six innings Tuesday, so why not hop aboard and see where this ride takes you? You can always hop off.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Delivers again
Rotowire
Dunning (4-0) won his second consecutive start in Tuesday's 7-4 victory over Atlanta. He allowed one run on six hits and struck out four without walking a batter over six innings.
The right-hander had to deal with traffic on the basepaths in every inning but his last one, but he managed to pitch out of trouble and retired the final seven batters he faced. He's been a Swiss army knife for the Rangers, serving as a multi-inning reliever and now fill-in starter while excelling at both. Earlier in the season, Dunning told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that improved health following offseason hip surgery was the reason he's been so effective in 2023. In three starts as a replacement in the rotation for the injured Jacob deGrom (elbow), Dunning has allowed three runs on 14 hits and two walks while striking out 12 over 17 innings. He'll get a few more starts before deGrom is ready to return.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Sleeper pitchers for Week 8 (May 15-21)
Rotowire
Dunning has had no problem taking on a starter's workload after beginning the year in relief and is still sporting a 1.72 ERA. The lack of strikeouts suggests regression is coming, but he's worth a try in a two-start week, especially since one of the matchups is the Rockies at home.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Goes six innings for win
Rotowire
Dunning (3-0) picked up his first win as a starter in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Mariners. He allowed two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five.
Dunning filled in for injured starter Jacob deGrom (elbow) for a second time and bumped his innings-count from five to six. The results may have been better, but a Robbie Grossman throwing miscue (not called an error) led to the Mariners' first run in the first inning. Dunning held Seattle in check the rest of the way, including setting the side down in order in three innings. Texas manager Bruce Bochy confirmed Dunning will continue as part of the rotation until deGrom's return, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. That means he's expected to start early next week at home against Atlanta.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Draws another start
Rotowire
Dunning is slated to start Wednesday's game in Seattle.
The fact that Dunning will get a second straight turn through the rotation comes as no surprise after he blanked the Angels while striking out three over five innings in his first start of the season last Friday. Dunning should have a hold on a rotation spot until the Rangers get ace Jacob deGrom (elbow) back from the 15-day injured list.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Tosses five scoreless innings
Rotowire
Dunning allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three over five scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Friday.
Dunning filled in admirably in place of Jacob deGrom (elbow). While he's worked as a long reliever for much of the season, Dunning was able to scratch out five frames on 72 pitches (47 strikes), which suggests he could get stretched out enough to stay in the rotation for the duration of deGrom's absence. Through 25.1 innings over nine appearances, Dunning has a 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB, though his ratios will likely suffer a bit while he's working as a starter. He's tentatively projected for a road start in Seattle next week.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Getting start Friday
Rotowire
Dunning will start Friday's road game against the Angels, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The right-hander has been excellent in long relief this season, holding a 1.77 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB over 20.1 innings. With Jacob deGrom (elbow) out at least a couple weeks, Dunning will likely get multiple turns through the rotation.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Set for bulk innings
Rotowire
Dunning is expected to serve as the Rangers' primary pitcher Friday against the Angels, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Dunning will take the rotation spot of Jacob deGrom (elbow), though it's unclear if he will work in a traditional starting role or behind an opener. He's thrown at least three innings in half of his eight appearances this season, though he may need to work as a bulk reliever to pitch deep enough to qualify for a win Thursday. Dunning has been impressive with a 1.77 ERA and 0.84 WHIP across 20.1 innings, though that's backed by just an 11:5 K:BB.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Expected fill-in for deGrom
Rotowire
Dunning is expected to fill in for starter Jacob deGrom (elbow) while deGrom is on the 15-day injured list, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.
DeGrom was placed on the IL on Saturday and is eligible to return May 14. The Rangers have two off days this coming week and will need a fifth starter once during that stretch if they choose to go with four starters over the next seven days. Dunning has pitched well out of the bullpen this season and has thrown at least four innings on two occasions, so he should be able to offer the Rangers a decent amount of length whenever he's needed to make a spot start in place of deGrom.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Vultures win
Rotowire
Dunning (1-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out five over 4.1 innings to pick up the win over Kansas City on Monday.
Dunning came in after Jacob deGrom was removed from the game with right wrist soreness. Like he's done all season, Dunning gave the Rangers strong work and length out of the bullpen. The right-hander has yet to allow a run over 15.1 innings (six appearances). After striking out just one batter over his first 7.1 frames, Dunning has eight punch-outs over the last eight innings.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Throws four-inning gem
Rotowire
Dunning allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one over four scoreless relief innings in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Orioles.
The right-hander has adjusted well to a multi-inning relief role, having thrown seven shutout innings over two appearances. Tuesday's effort shut down the Birds after they took a 7-1 lead in the third inning off starter Andrew Heaney. Texas starters have a 6.94 ERA while the bullpen is at 0.83 through five games. If this continues, Dunning, who made 29 starts in 2022, could rejoin the rotation.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Throws in relief
Rotowire
Dunning allowed two hits and one walk in a scoreless relief inning in Friday's spring game against the Cubs.
Dunning made four starts during the Cactus League and recently threw six innings, but there's no room for him in the rotation. The right-hander recently told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that he would like to be
a starter but is open to relieving. His eventual role will be as a multi-inning reliever, which will come in handy early when some starters, like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, may be on restricted pitch counts after dealing with injuries this spring.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Reaches six innings
Rotowire
Dunning allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and struck out four over six innings in Monday's spring start against Cleveland.
Dunning was the first Rangers hurler to work six innings, but Texas manager Bruce Bochy won't need him in a starting role. The right-hander appears to be ticketed for a bullpen/long-relief role, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The Rangers have a couple of starters -- Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi -- that were delayed in camp and won't be stretched out to go deep into games. That leaves Dunning and lefty Cole Ragans as a potential piggyback options early in the season.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Another impressive spring start
Rotowire
Dunning allowed one hit and one walk while striking out six over five shutout innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Royals.
Since getting rocked as a reliever in his Cactus League debut, Dunning has been superb in subsequent outings. In three starts, the right-hander has allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out 13 over 12 innings. Despite the good numbers, Dunning is on the outside of the Rangers' projected rotation, which includes newcomers Jacob deGrom (side), Nathan Eovaldi (side) and Andrew Heaney. He's setting himself up to be the top fill-in starter and possibly a piggyback option for deGrom and Eovaldi, both of whom Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said may be on restrictive pitch counts to open the season, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The Rangers also have a long man in Jake Odorizzi, but an arm issue means he won't be ready by Opening Day.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Stretches out to four IP
Rotowire
Dunning allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two over four scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against Oakland.
Dunning has bounced back nicely following his first Cactus League appearance, when he allowed five runs over 1.1 innings as a reliever. Since then, the right-hander's allowed one run and struck out seven over seven innings. The starting rotation is locked, but Dunning is putting himself in a position as the top candidate should Texas need a fill-in starter.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Fans five in first spring start
Rotowire
Dunning allowed one run on three hits while striking out five over three innings in Thursday's spring game against the Brewers.
This was Dunning's first Cactus League start and second appearance. The right-hander was part of Texas' rotation in 2022 but is on the outside of the top five starters as the 2023 regular season approaches. Barring injury to members of the projected rotation, the 28-year-old will likely occupy a multi-inning relief role during the regular season. Dunning was rocked in his one relief effort this spring, ceding five runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings following starter Nathan Eovaldi.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Fires lives BP session
Rotowire
Dunning (hip) struck out five on Monday in a live bullpen session, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports.
Dunning saw his 2022 season come to an early end in September because of season-ending hip surgery. The right-hander's ability to face hitters this early in camp suggests he's back to full health, but he'll still have to battle for a spot in the back end of the Texas rotation if he endures no setbacks in camp. Dunning finished last season with a 4.46 ERA, 137:62 K:BB and 1.43 WHIP over 153.2 innings, but he finds himself further down the depth chart to begin 2023 after the Rangers picked up Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney during the offseason.
