Confidence remains high in Rangers’ bullpen

ARLINGTON — Rangers relievers began the season with high expectations and confidence. That has not changed, even though their early-season performance has not been what was expected after what the Rangers received from their bullpen at the end of last season.

“We’re definitely still confident, and it’s fair to say we have high expectations,” closer Shawn Tolleson said. “Yeah, I mean, I speak for myself, I haven’t performed like I want to do to start the season. We’re not worried. We are going to keep going out there and throwing, take care of ourselves, show up ready to pitch and expect the results to change.”

Rangers relievers went into Tuesday’s game against the White Sox with a collective ERA of 4.89, the highest in the American League. They had a 3.01 ERA in their final 56 games of the 2015 season. Rangers relievers had also allowed a .286 opponents’ batting average and 1.75 home runs per nine innings through their first 33 games, as opposed to a .226 average and 0.84 home runs per nine innings in the final 56 contests last year.

The Rangers had lost three games when leading after seven, were 0-4 in extra innings games and 0-7 when the game was decided in the last at-bat. Their 10 relief losses were tied for the most in the Majors. Rangers starters were 13-5, while …

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