ARLINGTON, Texas — Closer Shawn Tolleson got a rare day off Sunday for the Texas Rangers, but it wasn’t necessarily his choice.
Tolleson pitched in four-consecutive games before getting Sunday’s game against San Francisco off.
Even though he’s normally only used in winning situations, the first-year closer has the mentality that he should be ready at all times.
“I’m ready to go mentally,” he said. “I kind of act like I’m going to pitch the ninth regardless of what the score is every game just so I don’t get caught off guard. I kind of think of it as a way of thinking optimistically, like we could get a few hits and a guy hits a home run and then I’ve got to get ready.”
The workload hasn’t impacted Tolleson’s performance. He needed just nine pitches to retire three batters in a perfect ninth inning Saturday night. He’s allowed just one run in his last eight outings, with that coming on a homer in Friday’s 6-3 win over San Francisco.
Tolleson, who has 18 saves since May 20, has already made 46 appearances this season but he doesn’t mind the work.
“I feel really good,” he said. “I’ve been feeling great. When they asked me to do four in a row I didn’t see the issue because I knew I had to do it some time.”