Hamels threw 81 pitches in a minor-league game Monday and allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits and four walks over 5.1 innings, TR Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hamels was sent to the back fields for an outing designed to hone his fastball command. The 34-year-old is wary about ramping up his velocity ahead of the regular season. He'll get one more start before taking the ball Opening Day, March 29, against Houston at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Hamels, who was named the Rangers' Opening Day starter, will not be subject to the manager Jeff Banister's planned six-man rotation, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hamels will pitch on four days rest just as he has throughout his career, while others in the rotation may get extra time in between starts. The six-man rotation will limit the number of starts for the non-Hamels starters, but Texas' ace should reach 30-35 starts if he stays healthy.

Hamels was named the Rangers' Opening Day starter Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The announcement is no surprise, as Hamels is easily the Rangers' most accomplished starter (unless Bartolo Colon ends up making the team). He's fallen off far from his days as a true frontline starter, however, after posting a 4.20 ERA with a 4.62 FIP and a 4.83 xFIP in 2017. Don't be fooled into thinking the 34-year-old is anything close to an ace simply because he's the best starter on the Rangers.

Hamels is working on a slider this spring, the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hamels is attempting to emulate Clayton Kershaw's slider in an effort to get more strikeouts. It's worth trying for the 34-year-old lefty, as he saw his strikeout rate dip from 26.6 percent in 2016 to just 17.1 percent last year, causing his ERA to jump from 3.32 to 4.20. Hamels is no stranger to tinkering with his arsenal, having added a cutter and a knuckle curve at previous points during his career. There's no guarantee the pitch will work for Hamels, but it at least gives him a glimmer of hope for a bounceback season and could make him worthy of a sleeper pick late in a draft.

Hamels will pitch on a normal schedule throughout the 2018 season, Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hamels made it known that he didn't want any part of a six-man starting rotation. Since voicing his concerns Saturday, the Rangers have announced that Hamels, Doug Fister and Matt Moore will all pitch on a normal schedule.

Hamels expressed his displeasure at the six-man starting rotation being considered by the Rangers, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. "I know that's the new analytical side of trying to reinvent the wheel, but I was brought up in the minor leagues on a five man, and that's what I'm designed and conditioned for," Hamels said after logging 2 1/3 innings in his Cactus League debut Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

The moment you hear about a six-man rotation, and the first thought racing through a fantasy owner's mind is fewer starts. To be fair, the Rangers are merely considering it, but haven't made a final decision. If they do go to six starters, it's quite possible that they wouldn't throw six starters every turn of the rotation. And they would likely keep Hamels, the staff ace, on a comfortable five-day schedule. Hamels has been a workhorse throughout his career, throwing more than 200 innings in seven straight seasons before an oblique injury limited him to 148 in 2017.

Hamels (11-6) allowed three runs on five hits and tone walk across three innings to take the loss Sunday against the Athletics. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Hamels struggled in the third inning, allowing four straight hits to begin the frame, plating three runs before he was able to escape. With nothing left to play for, the veteran was lifted prior to the fourth inning after working up to just 59 pitches. So concludes what will go down as a bit of a disappointing season for Hamels, who finishes with a 4.20 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 148 innings. He dealt with multiple injuries along the way, but he still flashed his potential at times and will look to return to his best form in the 2018 campaign.

Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News said it's his "guess" that Tuesday's start was Hamels' last of the 2017 season.

EDGE Analysis

The team is currently listing Sunday's probable starter as "TBA." Texas was officially eliminated from postseason contention with the loss Tuesday -- a loss which was attributed to Hamels (six runs over three innings). The Rangers are at home to close out the season, but it's possible they will shut Hamels down early and go with a bullpen game in the finale with nothing left to play for.

Hamels (11-5) took the loss in Tuesday's game against the Astros. He allowed six runs on six hits and four walks while striking out three over three-plus innings.

EDGE Analysis

Hamels was hit hard from the get-go Tuesday, as the veteran southpaw allowed four runs in the opening frame before even recording the first out. The disastrous outing -- which was his shortest of the season -- snapped his streak of three consecutive quality starts and inflated his ERA from 3.80 to 4.10. He'll close out the regular season against the A's on Sunday.

Hamels (11-4) allowed a single run on three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters through eight innings to take the win over Seattle on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran lefty has found a groove of late with a 2.53 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 8.4 K/9 through his past three starts. Hamels had allowed 21 runs through 28.1 innings over a five-game stretch before his recent rebound, so this mid-September surge has helped stabilized season-long numbers (3.80 ERA, 1.14 WHIP). It's definitely worth highlighting his career-worst 6.1 K/9, which is significantly lower than the 8.6 mark he posted through his first 11 seasons in the majors. Hamels has a daunting matchup against the Astros up next.