MLB Playoffs 2011: C.J. Wilson's Awful Start No Reason for Panic

At this writing, the Rays have just finished off the Rangers in Game 1 of their ALDS showdown. Texas starter C.J. Wilson got walloped, allowing eight runs (and three homers) in seven innings.

Fortunately for Texas, one game does not a series make. More importantly, unlike some recent Rangers squads, this year’s edition has the pitching depth to survive even after its ace has gotten blown out.

Besides Wilson, three other Texas starters (including Alexi Ogando, who’ll be in the postseason bullpen) recorded sub-4.00 ERAs in 2011. Even Colby Lewis, whose 4.40 ERA was the rotation’s worst, recorded a solid 1.213 WHIP and has the advantage of being right-handed against a Rays lineup that prefers to hit lefties.

The Rangers still can’t match the depth of Tampa’s rotation, but they’re a lot closer than the team’s offense-first, offense-only reputation would suggest.

By the same token, that vaunted offense is a good bet to bounce back after being handcuffed in tonight’s game by rookie Matt Moore. A pitcher is always going to have an advantage against an opponent who has never seen him, meaning that even Rays ace David Price (whom Texas beat 3-0 earlier this season) may be less daunting than the high-powered rookie.

This is, after all, a Rangers team that averaged 5.28 runs a game in the regular season; they’re going to put some runs on the board before the playoffs are done. Just as importantly, the relative weakness of the Rays offense (the lowest-scoring AL playoff team by a margin of 80 runs this season) means that Texas won’t have to score six and seven and eight runs a game themselves if they want to win.

Obviously, the early loss puts the Rangers in a hole, and they’ll have to take at least one game in Tampa to survive the series. However, their hopes of returning to the World Series aren’t going away just because of one anomalous game, no matter how bad.