Edinson Volquez didn’t work. Neither did Drew Smyly. Or Shelby Miller. Or Taylor Hearn. Or Joe Palumbo. Or Jesse Chavez. Or Adrian Sampson.

So, now the Rangers nation turns its lonely eyes to Kolby Allard.

The guy the Rangers traded Chris Martin to Atlanta for is starting for Texas today. He is replacing Sampson in the rotation. For now, at least.

Allard is a 21-year-old left-hander who pitched in three major league games for Atlanta last year after moving up through the Braves system fast. 

Rangers manager Chris Woodward said, “We made a trade for the kid. We want to see what he’s got.”

What he’s got is a 3.55 ERA in 115 innings this year in the Braves system. And what he’s got is the chance to pitch in the major leagues right now for a team that doesn’t have a whole lot of other options.

He’s a throwback to an era when 100-mile-an-hour pitchers were science fiction. Allard’s fastball sits in the 89-93 range. He has a good cutter.

He’s facing the Milwaukee Brewers, a team desperately fighting for a wild card spot in the National League.

Is Allard up to the task? Who knows? The Rangers are hoping this 6-foot, one-inch, 190-pound kid from Anaheim can stick around in their rotation.

Welcome to Texas, Kolby. Good luck.

*****

TODAY’S GAME:

Kolby Allard (—, -.–) vs. Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 3.35)

Game time: 7:10