ARLINGTON — The bullpen will be tested — even more than it already has been — as the All-Star break nears.
The Rangers placed right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis on the injured list with a right hip impingement and activated right-handed pitcher Chris Martin prior to Saturday’s game vs. the Detroit Tigers at Globe Life Field. Junis, arguably the team’s second-most important relief pitcher, has a 2.80 ERA in 31 games this season and is expected to return after the minimum number of days required on the injured list.
The 33 year old had been the club’s top right-handed relief option and formed a lethal one-two punch with left-handed pitcher Jacob Latz at the back end of the bullpen. He saved five games before his injury.
“He needs a blow right now to get this thing under control,” Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said. “He’s been so important to us.”
Martin has been sidelined for the last month with a right shoulder impingement. The 40-year-old had a 7.84 ERA in a dozen games before his injury and yielded a .391 batting average against, but after a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco, the Rangers were pleased with the quality of his pitches. He was considered a favorite to close games earlier this season, and now with Junis sidelined, he’s expected to return to a high-leverage role.
“He was up to 95, 96 with his slider, the spin looked good,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “[There won’t be] a soft landing. We’re throwing him in. He’s ready to go and we need it, especially from a right-hander, replacing Junis’ innings. We’ll try to mix and match as best we can but he’s going to be thrusted in a similar role [to the one he had] before he was injured.”
The Rangers will also be without left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks for the remainder of the season after he chose to undergo surgery on a strained flexor tendon. Beeks, who was signed in the middle of camp, had a 3.81 ERA in 29 games. The Rangers were prepared to activate him off of the injured list before he reported the strain in his arm.