After suffering yet another demoralizing defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels, the Texas Rangers can at least take solace in one thing: reinforcements are on the horizon.
Unfortunately, those reinforcements are arriving in the pitching department — not the area causing Bruce Bochy the most concern. Still, following Kumar Rocker’s latest outing on Wednesday, help in the rotation might be more necessary than expected. Rocker’s ERA has now climbed above 6.00 again, and he continues to show signs that he’s not quite ready to be a dependable arm just yet.
Jon Gray Begins Rehab Assignment
There is positive news: Jon Gray is officially beginning his journey back to the Rangers. The right-hander, sidelined since Spring Training due to a fractured forearm, made his first rehab start on Wednesday with Triple-A Round Rock. He allowed one run over two innings, tossing 32 pitches.
While there’s no exact count on how many rehab appearances Gray will make, Bochy estimates it could be around four, depending on how he progresses. That puts Gray on track to potentially return by the end of July.
Josh Sborz Progressing Slowly
The bullpen could also use a boost, and Josh Sborz might soon provide one. Though he isn’t as far along as Gray — still in extended Spring Training — a rehab assignment could be near.
Sborz’s upper-90s fastball would be a welcome addition to a Rangers bullpen lacking both stamina and velocity. No one currently available brings the kind of heat Sborz routinely delivers.
No Clear Timeline for Tyler Mahle
Gray’s impending return takes on added importance given the uncertainty surrounding Tyler Mahle. A recent setback ruled out a July comeback, and while mid-August remains the best-case scenario, the lack of a clear timetable raises concerns that Mahle might not pitch again this season.
Joc Pederson Still Aiming for Late July Return
There’s more optimism regarding Joc Pederson. One week ago, Bochy said Pederson was three weeks away from returning from a fractured hand — meaning a possible return in just two weeks. He’ll need a rehab stint, having been sidelined since May, but updates on that should be coming soon.