ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are pushing Derek Holland back in the rotation, allowing Martin Perez and Colby Lewis to take their next starts on regular four days' rest.
Holland, who started Monday against the Angels, was in line to follow Cole Hamels (Friday) and Yu Darvish (Saturday) and pitch Sunday against the Pirates. Instead he will be pushed back to Tuesday against the Indians in Cleveland.
Perez will pitch on Sunday against the Pirates and Lewis will open the three-game series against the Indians by pitching on Monday. This order allows the Rangers to alternate left- and right-handed starters. Darvish and Lewis are the right-handers. The only exception for now is Holland and Hamels, two left-handers, pitching back-to-back.
"We've seen [Holland] stronger and sharper when allowing him to have an extra day," manager Jeff Banister said. "You still have back-to-back left-handers in Holland and Hamels, but you don't want three in a row."
"Three guys in the rotation -- Darvish, Lewis and Holland -- we know Lewis responds well with an extra day of rest. Holland responds well to the extra day and Darvish, coming off Tommy John, probably needs it. Hamels likes to stay on regular [four days] rest, and Perez seems to respond to regular rest."
So far this season, Holland has a 9.00 ERA in four starts on four days rest and a 2.83 ERA when given at least one extra day.
Rangers beat
• Matt Bush pitched the eighth inning of the Rangers' 4-1 victory over the Angels on Tuesday night. Sam Dyson finished it off in the ninth for his fifth save of the season, and third since being named closer. Banister said Dyson is the only reliever with a designated role. All other relievers will be used based on the best possible matchups against opposing hitters.
• Tuesday also marked the first time Bush has thrown back-to-back games since being called up from Double-A Frisco. The Rangers still want to be careful how they use Bush because this is his first season back after being out of baseball for four years.
• Perez was the winning pitcher in the Rangers' victory on Tuesday. It marked only the third time in his 10 starts that the Rangers have scored more than three runs for him.