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Rangers kept afloat by Ezequiel Duran, Dane Dunning. What happens when starters return?

The replacements have not performed like replacements. It’s an issue the Rangers are happy to have to consider.

ARLINGTON – Big news on the Superstar front Tuesday: Corey Seager’s stomach is doing a bit better after a bout with a stomach bug and Jacob deGrom threw off a mound for the first time since leaving a start three weeks ago.

This is about their replacements.

What in the world are the Rangers going to do about Ezequiel Duran and Dane Dunning when the two stars return? The question – pondering depth the likes of which the Rangers haven’t seen in a decade, if not more – hung over a 7-4 win over Atlanta. Dunning, making his third start in place of deGrom, held the hard-hitting Atlanta offense in check for six innings. After a bullpen meltdown, this mess on the hands of Jonathan Hernández, Duran slayed a baseball 442 feet for an eighth-inning homer to give the Rangers some breathing room.

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It all sets up for a must-see series finale between Nathan Eovaldi and his 28.2 inning scoreless streak and Atlanta’s Spencer Strider, who has been in the conversation for the NL’s best pitcher the first six weeks of the season. Eovaldi (2.2) and Strider (2.0) enter the day second and third behind Arizona’s Zac Gallen in pitching WAR this season.

So, what are you going to do Bruce Bochy if Seager’s stomach is settled by Wednesday’s series finale? The manager did, after all, hint a week ago that Duran would remain part of the offense once Seager got back. Maybe Duran just wanted a guarantee on that promise.

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“Oh, yes, he’s going to get playing time,” Bochy said after the win. “He’s just got a really good knack for getting the bat on the ball.”

Duran has hit .305 with six homers and 20 RBIs since Seager went down on April 11. He’s become the regular shortstop. When Seager returns, he will likely get some days at DH early on, in addition to shortstop. The Rangers had hoped to have Seager back on Monday for the start of this series, but a stomach virus pushed that back. Now the hope is Wednesday’s finale. But the return will also be gradual. When Seager DHs, it’s easy enough to put Duran at short. When Seager plays the field, though, the Rangers have to find a spot for him. He could go to left field or to DH. But he’s pushed his way into the regular lineup.

And, hey, if Bochy is handing out promises, maybe Dunning would like a little of that action. After spending the first month of the season as the Rangers’ most consistent reliever – because there wasn’t a spot for him in the rotation – he’s transitioned back to starter seamlessly.

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He allowed the Atlanta lineup some hard-hit balls early but steadied himself and didn’t create trouble with walks. When he was done, he’d worked six innings and allowed just a run. In three starts since deGrom went out, he’s allowed three runs in 17 innings with just two walks and no homers. For the season, he lowered his ERA to 1.69 in the split role.

So, as long as we are asking direct questions: Dane, do you consider yourself just a fill-in?

“I’m just trying to be the best Swiss Army knife I can be,” Dunning said. “Regardless of role.”

Said Bochy: “I’m looking forward to having to make that decision. It’s still a ways off. But he’s just brought so much value to whatever role we’ve used him in.”

The replacements have not performed like replacements.

It’s an issue the Rangers are happy to have to consider.

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