Luke Jackson gives up a three-run homer in the 9th.

When last Rangers fans saw Luke Jackson in a Texas uniform, he was performing about as well as he did last night.

A first-round pick by the Rangers in 2010, Jackson made his Rangers debut in 2015. It was unspectacular. But in 2016, it was unwatchable.

Jackson appeared in just eight games but posted a 10.80 ERA. He gave up runs in seven of the eight games in which he appeared, surrendering six in 1.2 innings in his last appearance for the Rangers. That was in July. They sent him down, then traded him to Atlanta in the offseason for two pitchers who never materialized: Tyrell Jenkins and Brady Feigl.

His 2017 for Atlanta wasn’t great, either, allowing the second-worst hard-hit percentage. The Braves DFAed him that offseason, then signed him in April of 2018, then DFAed him again less than two weeks later. 

The Braves recalled him in May, then DFAed him two days later. 

This is the guy the Rangers have decided to trust in a situation with the game on the line. All he did last night was what he did his first time here: give up runs and take the Rangers out of ballgames. 

Jackson and the Rangers lack of offense spoiled a nine-strikeout night from Nathan Eovaldi, as Boston scored three times in the top of the ninth off Jackson for a 5-2 win.

He might not get the quick DFAs he got with Atlanta. But, Jackson should might not be the guy they should trust with a game on the line.

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