With eye on postseason, Banister flips rotation

ARLINGTON — Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish are both going to get extra rest before their next two starts as they get ready for the postseason.

Manager Jeff Banister announced on Tuesday that Derek Holland will start on Wednesday against the Angels instead of Hamels on his normal four days of rest. Hamels instead will start on Friday against the Athletics, with Darvish going on Saturday.

“I think it’s the appropriate time for both of them to get extra rest,” Banister said.

The plan is also for Hamels and Darvish to make their final starts of the regular season the following Friday and Saturday, against the Rays. That would put them in position to enter the postseason as the Rangers’ top two starters. The first two games of the American League Division Series are scheduled for Oct. 6-7, which is Thursday and Friday of the following week.

The Rangers are formulating these plans with the idea that they will clinch the division title sooner than later and that they’ll have the luxury of being able to set their rotation for the postseason.

“We still have some yard work to do right now,” Banister said.

The Rangers want both Hamels and Darvish healthy and rested for postseason, but they also want them heading into October on the upswing. Hamels is 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA in his last four starts, and Darvish is 1-2 with a 6.04 ERA in his last five.

“You don’t want them to go …

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