ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers’ starting lineup is awaiting the return of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. Now they can add Tyler Mahle to the roster.
The Rangers placed Mahle on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a right shoulder injury and reinstated right-handed starter Jon Gray, who has been out since July 29 with a right groin strain. Mahle, 29, has made three major league starts this season since returning from a year-long Tommy John-related injury layoff, most recently pitching against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Mahle threw 61 pitches in three innings against the Twins and his velocity was weak overall. He has a 4.97 ERA in 12 2/3 innings this season.
“We are being cautious,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.
Gray had to leave his last start on July 28 against the Toronto Blue Jays because he felt groin pain during warm-ups. The 32-year-old threw a live bullpen on Saturday and said he “didn’t feel like I lost anything good.” In 20 games (17 starts) this season, he has a 3.73 ERA.
Bochy said Gray, who was expected to start this week despite Mahle’s injury, could pitch out of the Rangers’ bullpen on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates but would return to the starting lineup after that.
- Scherzer (shoulder soreness) started as a pitcher in a bullpen session at Globe Life Field on Tuesday and is still scheduled to pitch at Double-A Frisco “on Friday.”
- DeGrom (elbow surgery) worked a light “tune-up” bullpen on Tuesday ahead of his first minor league rehab game on Thursday at Double-A Frisco and is “ready to go,” according to Bochy. “This is probably a key bullpen for him,” Bochy said. “(It’s been) a long road to actually start pitching in games. I’m sure he’s excited about it — as are we.”
- Right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning, whose velocity dropped significantly in Monday’s win over the Pirates, is “perfectly fine,” according to Bochy, who attributed the loss of velocity to a mechanical problem.
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