According to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has informed beat writers that starting pitcher Tyler Mahle has been placed on the 15-day injured list with shoulder stiffness. In a corresponding move, right-hander Jon Gray will be activated.
Bruce Bochy said Tyler Mahle is going on the injured list with shoulder stiffness.
Jon Gray is going to be activated.
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) August 20, 2024
Rangers’ Tyler Mahle Placed on Injured List
Another Tommy John Patient
Mahle signed a two-year contract with the Rangers before having Tommy John surgery last year. He has only been pitching for two weeks. Each of the right-hander’s three starts has been shorter than the one before it. In his last start, he went three innings and gave up four runs with one strikeout. It is unclear when the shoulder started bothering the hurler. However, shoulder issues have followed Mahle since the latter part of the 2022 season, leading to limited availability.
Revolving Rotation
Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are set to begin rehab assignments this week. It is an open question how durable and effective the Cy Young Award winners will be. It is safe to say that there are multiple options for limited spots. Along with the aces, the Rangers have Nathan Eovaldi, Gray, and Andrew Heaney in their rotation. Cody Bradford, Dane Dunning, and Tyler Mahle will also be available, assuming Mahle’s shoulder injury isn’t serious.
A Murky Future
An abundance of arms may get the Rangers through this season. However, it looks like the reigning World Series champions’ chances of repeating are growing dimmer by the day. Texas is now trailing the Houston Astros by 11 games and is 12 1/2 games back of the Wild Card.
Decisions loom in the offseason as well, as both Scherzer and Heaney will be free agents, and Eovaldi may choose to exercise his options. The pitchers projected in the rotation have injury histories or unproven arms. It will be an interesting six weeks for the Rangers, and maybe an eye-opening winter as well.
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