Dunning (1-1) allowed three runs on four hits and three walks over 6.2 frames Sunday, striking out seven and taking a loss against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

While it wasn't the cleanest line, Dunning has now turned in two straight quality starts to begin his 2024 season. The only damage against him Sunday came via Yordan Alvarez's three-run shot in the third inning. Dunning's velocity is noticeably down in 2024; his fastball averaged just 88.5 mph Sunday and he threw it only six times. Despite that, the 29-year-old has produced a 14:7 K:BB through 13 frames. Dunning is currently projected for a rematch in Houston next weekend.

Dunning (1-0) allowed three runs on three hits and four walks over 6.1 innings Monday, striking out seven and earning a win over the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Dunning cruised through six shutout frames before coughing up home runs to Richie Palacios and Jose Siri in the seventh inning. Dunning tossed 93 pitches, including 18 whiffs, which would've been his second-best total in 2023. The 29-year-old has seen his strikeout rate consistently drop throughout his MLB career -- down to 7.3 K/9 in 2023 -- but he posted a 10.7 K/9 this spring and is off to a good start after Monday's outing. Dunning is currently in line to face the Astros at home this weekend.

Dunning allowed one unearned run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight over five innings in Wednesday's spring start against Cincinnati.

EDGE Analysis

Dunning appears locked in for the regular season, telling Stefan Stevenson of SI.com that his delivery was in line after flying open in his previous spring start. The right-hander was also pleased with his forkball, a new pitch, which he estimated throwing about 20 times among his 90 pitches. Stevenson also confirmed with manager Bruce Bochy that Dunning and Jon Gray will split the final spring start next Tuesday against the Red Sox. That suggests his regular-season debut could be Sunday, March 31, against the Cubs or Monday, April 1, against the Rays.

Dunning said Sunday the new pitch he's working on this spring is a forkball, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Dunning talked about a new pitch following his first spring outing but did not reveal what type of pitch. Statcast recorded the offering as a splitter during Dunning's second start, last week against Arizona, but the pitcher says it's a forkball. "I threw some good forkballs [Sunday], so that was fun," Dunning said. "I had some good swings and misses on them. I think I threw four or five of them, all of them came in the third inning." The right-hander allowed four runs on five hits and one walk while striking five over three innings Sunday, his third Cactus League start.

Dunning allowed two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out two over two innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Dunning allowed runs in each of his two innings and threw 40 pitches (28 in the second frame). "I got into trouble but worked out of certain situations, made some pitches when I needed to, but I just can't get myself into those positions to begin with," Dunning told Michael Reynolds of MLB.com. He also threw the new pitch he's been working on and induced a pop-out, after he spiked the same pitch during his Cactus League opener last Friday. He'd kept the pitch a mystery, but the Diamondbacks' Salt River Fields is equipped with Statcast, which indicated the pitch was a splitter. Unlike 2023, when the right-hander started in the Rangers' bullpen, Dunning is rotation bound in 2024.

Dunning threw one scoreless inning in Friday's spring start against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Dunning retired the side in order, inducing a flyout, groundout and lineout to kick off the Cactus League schedule. The right-hander tinkered with a new pitch during the offseason, the type of which he would not divulge to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. He threw it once during Friday's outing and spiked it well short of the plate. It appears to be a variation of a splitter. Dunning's current arsenal includes a sinker (33.1 percent in 2023), slider (23.4 percent), cutter (20.0 percent), changeup (15.6 percent) and curveball (4.7 percent). He's penciled into the Opening Day rotation, but things could change in the second half of the season, when injured starters Jacob deGrom (elbow), Tyler Mahle (elbow) and Max Scherzer (back) are ready to pitch.

Dunning will get the start Friday in the Rangers' Cactus League opener against the Royals, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Dunning will draw the start Friday, with Cody Bradford scheduled to follow. Dunning posted a 12-7 record in 2023 with a 3.70 ERA and 140:55 K:BB over 172.2 innings, earning a raise to $3.323 million for 2024 in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He'll open the season at the back end of Texas' starting rotation.

The Rangers and Dunning avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.325 million contract Thursday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was Dunning's first year of arbitration eligibility, so he will receive a well-earned raise. The right-hander collected a 3.70 ERA over 172.2 innings for Texas in 2023, putting up a 140:55 K:BB along the way. Dunning will be a key part of the Rangers' rotation again in 2024, particularly for the first half of the season while the club waits on multiple other starters to get healthy.

Dunning took the loss in Thursday's 10-3 defeat to the Astros, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Dunning has had a rough time in the postseason so far, contrasting with his 3.70 ERA in over 172 innings during the regular season. The right-hander had a roller coaster outing with his command, nullifying his strikeout gains by allowing too many free passes. He was replaced by Cody Bradford in the fourth inning after Dunning had loaded the bases, and Bradford promptly served up a sac fly and a home run to pin three runs onto Dunning's line. He now has a 7.71 ERA and 1.93 WHIP across 4.2 innings this postseason with five strikeouts.

Dunning will not start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Orioles on Saturday as previously expected.

EDGE Analysis

The left-handed Andrew Heaney is going to get the call instead, though it might be more of an opener assignment rather than a traditional start as the Rangers try to counter the O's propensity to platoon. Dunning did not pitch in the AL Wild Card Series and will presumably be available in a piggyback relief role Saturday at Baltimore. The 28-year-old right-hander posted a 3.70 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 140:55 K:BB across 172.2 innings (26 starts, nine relief appearances) during the regular season.