August 17th, 2024
LATEST NEWS
Aug. 17: RHP Jacob deGrom, RHP Jon Gray make strides in simulated gameBefore Saturday’s game against the Twins, deGrom and Gray took turns on the mound at Globe Life Field facing hitters in simulated game action. Both injured pitchers threw the equivalent of three innings and about 45 pitches, and both could be pitching in “real” games as soon as next week.
Gray, who went to the IL with a right groin strain on July 28, could be ready to start during the team’s series in Cleveland beginning next Friday, although he said after Saturday that he might be able to pitch out of the bullpen in the Rangers’ home series against the Pirates.
“I felt like everything held together really well in the live bullpen,” Gray said. “This time down [on the IL], I’ve taken the time to kind of take care of those smaller muscles and everything. I feel really good, really strong.”
deGrom, who underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his right elbow last June, is behind Gray in terms of his timetable, having not pitched in a game in nearly 14 months. But he is closer than ever to beginning a rehab assignment, possibly for Double-A Frisco as the RoughRiders are home next week.
“It’s important to get out there this year and treat it like a normal offseason and get ready for next year,” deGrom said.
Aug. 16: RHP Max Scherzer making progress through right shoulder fatigueScherzer is confident his illustrious career isn’t over yet. The 40-year-old right-hander has been shut down with right shoulder fatigue since Aug. 2, but he threw a “pain-free” 25-pitch bullpen on Friday and hopes to throw a more intense 40-pitch session as soon as Sunday.
“We’ll see where I’m at and make decisions after that,” Scherzer said. “It took me an extra, let’s call it a week, longer to get over this fatigue, and I got through it. Now I’m throwing the ball, getting back to the mound. The good thing was, it wasn’t terribly too much time. But I’m going to definitely need a couple bullpens here before I can get back into a game.”
Scherzer was placed on the injured list on Aug. 2. He had labored through his previous start on July 30, throwing 68 pitches in four innings and allowing three runs.
“I still see myself being able to compete at a high level,” said Scherzer, who is 2-4 with a 3.89 ERA over eight starts this season. “I still want to compete, to go out there and still do this.”
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Jon Gray (right groin strain)Expected return: TBDGray has recovered quicker than initially expected after he suffered a groin strain in pregame warmups in Toronto on July 28. He attempted to start that game, but was removed before throwing a pitch. Early expectations were that he would miss up to a month, but after Gray faced live hitters on Aug. 17, manager Bruce Bochy said the right-hander wouldn’t need a rehab start.
“I see Jon being ready in just a few days,” Bochy said. “He had good command, good stuff. He hasn’t missed that much time, so he’s good to go.” (Last updated: Aug. 17)
RHP Max Scherzer (right shoulder fatigue)Expected return: TBDScherzer was placed on the injured list on Aug. 2 with right shoulder fatigue. He threw a bullpen on Aug. 16 and expects to do it again after a day’s rest. Manager Bruce Bochy said Scherzer “had a good day down there” in his first bullpen since going on the IL.
“He used everything, all his pitches,” Bochy said. “He’s letting it go.” (Last updated: Aug. 16)
RHP Josh Sborz (right shoulder fatigue)Expected return: Late AugustThis will be Sborz’s third shoulder-related injury stint this season, though he has posted a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings out of the bullpen when healthy. General manager Chris Young said Sborz will head back to Texas and get an injection that will hopefully calm down the fatigue and have him in a better place going forward.
“Our hope is this is a 15-day setback for Josh, and that we’ll have him pretty close to that 15-day time period,” Young said. (Last updated: Aug. 11)
LHP Jacob Latz (left forearm tightness)Expected return: TBDLatz was placed on the injured list on Aug. 4, retroactive to Aug. 3, with left forearm tightness. He last pitched on Aug. 2 in a shaky outing, allowing two earned runs on three hits and walking three over two innings.
Manager Bruce Bochy said the Rangers don’t expect Latz’s injury to be a long-term concern, and they feel confident he will not need Tommy John surgery. The lefty has pitched in 46 games this year, posting a 3.71 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. (Last updated: Aug. 4)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Jacob deGrom (right UCL repair surgery)Expected return: Late AugustdeGrom faced hitters for the third time on Aug. 17 at Globe Life Field before the Rangers faced the Twins. deGrom faced Ezequiel Duran, Travis Jankowski and Robbie Grossman over three simulated innings.
deGrom said his arm “feels great,” but his fastball location is still a work in progress.
“That’s the hardest pitch to throw, down and away fastball at full extension,” deGrom said. “That’s the hardest pitch to repeat in baseball. That’s probably going to be the last thing to come. But the main thing is health, and I feel really good.” (Last updated: Aug. 17)
OF Evan Carter (lower back soreness)Expected return: 2025Carter, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 29, is not expected to play again this season after his last exam by a specialist revealed his sore back needs more rest.
General manager Chris Young said on July 30 that Carter was unlikely to play again this season. Carter said on Aug. 4 that he must avoid rotational activities for now, with the hope that he can start swinging a bat by late September or early October.
Carter missed seven games from May 11-17 with back soreness, but he initially returned without an IL stint. The Rangers then placed Carter on the injured list on May 28. While a return looked possible when he rejoined the club around the All-Star break and ramped up activities, Carter hasn’t felt healthy enough for a rehab stint, which prompted the shutdown. (Last updated: Aug. 4) More >>
RHP Cole Winn (right shoulder sprain)Expected return: TBDThe Rangers announced on June 23 that Winn would go to the Major League 15-day IL with right shoulder discomfort, retroactive to June 18. Winn was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on June 18, but informed the club that he was experiencing shoulder discomfort after he rejoined the Express. Team doctors then determined that he had a right shoulder sprain, and he was moved to the 60-day IL on June 26.
His last outing before the injury was with the big league club, so his option is now voided. (Last updated: June 26)
RHP Carson Coleman (Tommy John surgery)Expected return: TBDColeman was selected by the Rangers in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft from the Yankees. He did not pitch in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In 2022, Coleman was named the Eastern League “Reliever of the Year” after going 2-3 with 15 saves and a 2.86 ERA across 35 relief appearances for Double-A Somerset. (Last updated: March 9)