The Texas Rangers could soon be forced to call up a starter from the minor leagues, depending on how things progress with right-hander Tyler Mahle.
Mahle, a key piece of the Rangers’ strong rotation this season, is dealing with shoulder tightness that emerged after his last start against Minnesota.
While he’s not scheduled to pitch this weekend, his next outing would fall on Tuesday against Kansas City — assuming he remains healthy.
Manager Bruce Bochy said Mahle felt the issue after his previous appearance, and the team had already adjusted his schedule with extra rest before that outing.
Tyler Mahle
If Mahle ends up on the injured list, the Rangers might turn to top prospect Kumar Rocker, who was seen in the clubhouse on Saturday and could be next in line.
However, Bochy noted that Rocker’s presence may be tied more to managing bullpen workloads than directly replacing Mahle.
Kumar Rocker
The Rangers have leaned on bullpen games recently, and with another one expected Sunday, the decision on whether to start Rocker may depend on how heavily relievers are used in Saturday’s game.
Despite Mahle’s recent struggles, he’s been having a strong bounce-back year, posting a 2.34 ERA through 14 starts in his first full season since Tommy John surgery.
