As Spring Training turns into its final weeks, the Texas Rangers find themselves in need of a fifth starter. It's not that the Rangers don't have enough arms to fill the spot. 

They do, yet there's a battle brewing between Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker.

Who will Rangers manager Skip Schumaker pick between the two hurlers? That's a question which still remains to be answered.

In a recent article looking at some of the key Spring Training battles across the MLB landscape, Eno Sarris of The Athletic spent some time highlighting what might take place between Latz and Rocker.

"He’s pitched five innings this spring and has one strikeout to show for it, but Jacob Latz is my favorite for the fifth starter role in Texas," Harris wrote. "He has a really good fastball/slider/changeup arsenal that should be effective against either hand.

"That’s key because Kumar Rocker is struggling to find something that works against lefties, who slugged .522 against him last year," Harris continued.

Without an effective "out" pitch, if you will, then a pitcher becomes quite ineffective in clutch moments. Latz has that in his arsenal; Rocker just doesn't right now.

"He could get along on command, but you’d still want him to have one pitch that could shine against lefties, and he’s still looking for that," Harris wrote about Rocker.

"So even if Latz has a ceiling that is limited by a potentially low strikeout rate, he’s probably going to be the option here," Harris continued. "He could have an ERA near 4.00 and be useful at home, where his home park has trended pitcher-friendly for a couple years now."

If Harris' observations are to be looked upon as reality, then Rocker probably will get sent down to Triple-A team, the Round Rock Express in Round Rock, Texas.

A major-league pitcher must be able to retire hitters effectively, no matter which side of the plate they hit from on a regular basis.

Still, the Rangers have time to figure out the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Schumaker can let this situation continue between Latz and Rocker a little bit longer. Time is of the essence, though, so the call will have to be made at some point.

So far this spring, Latz hasn't recorded a win or loss. He's appeared in three Cactus League games, working 8 1/3 innings while striking out four. Latz's ERA right now is at 5.40 and he has a WHIP of 1.20. In 33 games in 2025, Latz had eight saves, struck out 76 batters, and finished with a 2.84 ERA.

Let's see if Latz is the call here from Schumaker.

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