The Rangers placed Jack Leiter on the IL Sunday and have yet to name a replacement, while Corey Seager remains in concussion protocol.
The Texas Rangers really wanted to avoid sending another starter to the injured list, but the rotation took yet another hit despite preseason confidence in the unit.
The Rangers announced that they placed righty Jack Leiter on the 15-day IL on Sunday due to a persistent ankle issue that has affected his mechanics.
And unfortunately, star shortstop Corey Seager still remains stuck in concussion protocol as the Texas roster has a bit of a double blow hitting at a critical stretch. They are still in the fight in the American League West Division, but the hill is getting a bit taller to climb.
The Rangers recalled Jose Corniell from Triple-A Round Rock for some desperate rotation depth, but it doesn’t solve the void in the rotation now left by Reiter ahead of Tuesday against the Miami Marlins.
To read more about the major blow to Texas’ rotation, here is the full story from Rangers Roundtable writer Jordan Lawrenz.
Reiter was diagnosed with right ankle posterior impingement, something he’d persisted through most of the season after re-aggravating it back in April slipping against the New York Yankees. The issue has gone from bad to worse as his mechanics have faltered in tandem.
Things collapsed in June when Reiter went 0-3 with a 9.88 ERA. He is now 3-7 on the season with a 5.29 ERA through 15 starts.
Then there’s the issue of Seager, who was eligible to return from the seven-day concussion list on Friday but remains in protocol. He has been able to participate in meetings and do some on-field running but there isn’t a timetable for his return just yet.
It’s a pivotal point in the season and the Rangers just keep taking more hits from underperforming players battling persistent injuries, and they’re hoping for that luck to break soon.
