A solid start to a season is crucial for any player. No matter if you’re a pitcher or a position player, starting strong gives you a great sense of confidence. A full 162-game season at this level isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes a certain mentality to stay healthy and focused to help your team win for the duration of the year. A good start is certainly key in making that happen. One such player who fits this description is Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kyle Gibson. So far, the right-hander has shown great poise on the mound as he has kept his guys in the win column every time he has pitched. Let’s take a look at Kyle Gibson’s strong start to the 2021 season.
Change of Scenery
Going from freezing cold temperatures to scorching heat seems to be working for Gibson. He is in his second year with Texas; however, one could say that 2021 is his first full year with the team. He previously played for the Minnesota Twins, signing with the Rangers as a free agent on December 6, 2019. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he was 2-6 with a 5.35 ERA and league-high WHIP of 1.530. This year, he boasts a record of 3-0 with an ERA of 2.16. He has 27 strikeouts against 11 walks on the year. Despite his dismal 2020 numbers, he has bounced back nicely thus far in 2021. There is still a long way to go before the end of the regular season, but one can’t help but be impressed by Kyle Gibson’s strong start.
Getting the Best of Boston
Gibson’s most recent start was a particularly solid one. The roof was closed at Globe Life Field that night, and the climate-controlled environment seemed to suit Gibson just fine. He pitched six innings while giving up only one earned run one three hits. He walked three, but he also managed to strike out four. Rangers manager Chris Woodward had to be pleased with his starter’s effort. The Rangers won that game by a final score of 4-1. Gibson earned the win, bringing his record to a perfect 3-0. The victory that night brought the Rangers’ overall record to 11-15. So there is still work to be done, but Gibson helped his team’s cause against Boston in the series opener.
Up Next
Gibson’s next start will most likely come on the road at Target Field against his former team, the Twins, at Target Field next week. One can’t help but wonder how we will fare against his old teammates, but hopefully he will do well. It would also help if the Rangers got on a winning streak before his start. Momentum is another key to a starting pitcher’s success. Gibson has looked very confident in the early weeks of 2021. In most cases, confidence leads to good results. He has a lot of starts ahead of him until the season is over, and the Rangers are hoping to get the best from him in those starts. We’ll see if Kyle Gibson can keep pace with his strong start.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
Players mentioned:
Kyle Gibson, Chris Woodward
