The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Texas Rangers – INSIDE PITCH
Cather A.J. Pierzynski, the ironman of current catchers, ended up on the disabled list Thursday for just the second time in his 14-year career.
Pierzynski, 36, has been bothered by a strained oblique muscle on his right side for nearly two weeks.
The Rangers made the decision only after Pierzynski missed four games in a nine-game stretch, including having to take himself out of the lineup Wednesday. The club also waited until getting a report from club physician Dr. Keith Meister, who read an MRI.
The Rangers promoted catcher Robinson Chirinos, acquired after the season started from Tampa Bay, to replace Pierzynski. Chirinos, 29, appeared in 20 games with Tampa Bay in 2011. The bulk of the catching will fall to C Geovany Soto, who is hitting .212 for 33 at-bats in 10 games this season.
The loss of Pierzynski is significant. Even though he was slumping at the plate due to the injury, the Rangers were 16-8 with him behind the plate, compared to 5-5 with Soto. The team ERA with Pierzynski: 2.84; with Soto it is 4.10.
The Rangers obviously want to keep the time missed to a minimum and feel putting Pierzynski on the DL now will pay dividends later. Pierzynski is eligible to return May 21.
“We’re going to be smart early in the season and get it taken care of,” general manager Jon Daniels said.
“I’m mad and disappointed in myself that I can’t play with this,” said Pierzynski, who struck out in his last five at-bats. “I’ve played with a lot of things. This hasn’t been getting any better. We don’t want it to become something that lasts.”
The only other time Pierzynski ended up on the DL was in 2011 when he missed 17 games with a fractured left wrist after being hit by a pitch. With 1,502 career starts behind the plate, Pierzynski is the active leader in games caught. He ranks 20th all-time.
“I work hard to stay on the field,” Pierzynski said. “It’s disappointing when something like this happens and you have to miss time.”
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MLB Team Report – Texas Rangers – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 21-13
STREAK: Won one
PAST 10 GAMES: 5-5
NEXT: Rangers (Alexi Ogando, 3-2, 3.08) at Astros (Dallas Keuchel, 0-1, 4.96)
PLAYER NOTES:
–RHP Alexi Ogando will have an extra day of rest before Texas opens a three-game series Friday in Houston. Ogando has recorded quality starts in his past three outings and has four overall this season. His last outing was May 4 at Boston, where he held the Red Sox to a run on six hits in six innings as the Rangers won, 5-1. In seven 2013 starts, Ogando is 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA. In three career appearances (one start) against Houston, Ogando is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA.
–C A.J. Pierzynski underwent an MRI exam Wednesday that confirmed a strained right oblique, and he was placed on the disabled list for the second time in his 16-year career. Pierzynski was a late scratch from the starting lineup Tuesday, and he had missed four of the last nine games. Pierzynski is hitting .263 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 22 games this season.
–C Robinson Chirinos will be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock before the Rangers’ next game, Friday at Houston. Chirinos will fill the roster spot created when C A.J. Pierzynski was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday due to a strained right oblique. In 23 games with the Express, Chirinos was batting .295 with five doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs.
–RHP Alexi Ogando will have an extra day of rest before Texas opens a three-game series Friday in Houston. Ogando has recorded quality starts in his past three outings and has four overall this season. His last outing was May 4 at Boston, where he held the Red Sox to a run on six hits in six innings as the Rangers won, 5-1. In seven 2013 starts, Ogando is 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA. In three career appearances (one start) against Houston, Ogando is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA.
–1B Mitch Moreland went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and two RBIs Wednesday. He is 10-for-23 (.435) in his past six games, has homered in each of his last three and has hits in 12 of his last 16. Moreland is batting .385 during the 16-game stretch, raising his average from .157 to .287.
–2B Ian Kinsler singled and homered in his first two at-bats Wednesday, finishing the day 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs while snapping an 0-for-9 streak. Before Wednesday, Kinsler’s last hit came in the fifth inning of Texas’ 4-3 victory at Boston last Sunday — the final game in an 11-game hitting streak. Kinsler leads Texas with a .319 average to go along with six home runs and 19 RBIs.
–RHP Colby Lewis will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday. Lewis has been on the disabled list since late March as he continues to work his way back from right elbow surgery that caused him to miss the second half of last season. Lewis was Texas’ Opening Day starter in 2012, and he went 6-6 with a 3.43 ERA before being shut down last July.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He scattered their hits well, made pitches when he needed to and didn’t walk anybody. Derek did what he had to do.” — Manager Ron Washington, on LHP Derek Holland, who gave up 10 hits but just one run in a 4-1 win over the Brewers on Wednesday.
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MLB Team Report – Texas Rangers – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–C A.J. Pierzynski (strained right oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 6.
–LHP Martin Perez (fractured left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He began a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on May 6. The Rangers are optimistic Perez can return by the end of May.
–LHP Matt Harrison (lower-back soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 7. He had surgery April 23 to repair a herniated disk. He underwent a second operation May 1.
–RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He began throwing live batting practice April 8. Soria suffered a setback in his recovery when he strained a muscle in his chest throwing live batting practice on April 19 at the club’s spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz. The Rangers hoped to have him back by early June, but instead won’t get him back until July.
–RHP Colby Lewis (right flexor tendon surgery in July 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He began throwing live batting practice April 8, and he pitched in extended spring training May 4. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on May 9. Lewis could be ready to return to the Rangers by early June.
–RHP Neftali Feliz (Tommy John surgery in August 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 24. He is not expected to return until after the All-Star break.
–RHP Justin Miller (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) was recalled from the minors and placed on the 60-day disabled list April 12.
ROTATION:
RHP Yu Darvish
LHP Derek Holland
RHP Alexi Ogando
RHP Nick Tepesch
RHP Justin Grimm
BULLPEN:
RHP Joe Nathan (closer)
RHP Jason Frasor
LHP Michael Kirkman
LHP Robbie Ross
RHP Derek Lowe
LHP Joe Ortiz
RHP Tanner Scheppers
CATCHERS:
Geovany Soto
Robinson Chirinos
INFIELDERS:
1B Mitch Moreland
2B Ian Kinsler
SS Elvis Andrus
3B Adrian Beltre
INF Jeff Baker
INF Leury Garcia
OUTFIELDERS:
LF David Murphy
CF Leonys Martin
RF Nelson Cruz
DH Lance Berkman
OF Craig Gentry
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