Pence may return by Tuesday for Rangers

ARLINGTON -- Outfielder Hunter Pence is in position to be activated off the injured list on Tuesday when the Rangers play the D-backs at Globe Life Park.

The Rangers have not made a final decision yet. Pence will be evaluated by their medical staff on Tuesday afternoon to make sure he is ready. But unless something unexpected comes up, Pence is expected to be activated for Tuesday’s game.

He was 2-for-4 in his fourth medical rehab game with Double-A Frisco on Sunday night and is off on Monday. The Rangers could use his right-handed bat since the D-backs are scheduled to start left-handers Alex Young and Robbie Ray during the two-game series.

Other injury updates
• Left-hander Taylor Hearn threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Saturday at the Rangers complex in Surprise, Ariz., and he has two more scheduled for this week. After that, he could start pitching in games again. He has been sidelined with a sprained ligament in his left elbow since making his Major League debut on April 25 against the Mariners.

• Left-hander Yohander Mendez, who has been sidelined since Spring Training with a strained left elbow, has been throwing in the bullpen in Arizona. He's scheduled to start throwing live batting practice this week.

• Right-hander Luke Farrell, who sustained a fractured jaw when he was hit by a line drive in Spring Training, is also scheduled for two live batting practices this week.

• Right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang is being added to the Triple-A Nashville roster Monday after being sidelined since the end of May with a strained lower back. He has a 3.18 ERA in four outings with the Rangers this year.

• Left-hander Brady Feigl, who was in the Rangers' Major League camp, has had two scoreless outings for the Arizona Rookie-league Rangers. He has been on the injured list since May 22 with shoulder stiffness.

Lynn watch
A few notes on Lance Lynn, who will start for the Rangers on Tuesday night against the D-backs.

• He is averaging 4.79 strikeouts per walk this season, seventh best in the American League. It is also the second-highest ratio in club history. Ferguson Jenkins averaged five strikeouts per walk in 1974 when he won a club-record 25 games.

• Lynn struck out 11 batters in his last start against the Astros, and 10 came off his fastball. In the second inning, he struck out Robinson Chirinos on a 97.8-mph fastball. It was the fastest third strike of his career, according to Statcast.

• Lynn is second in the AL with 106.4 pitches per nine innings. Trevor Bauer of the Indians leads the league with 112.2 pitches per nine innings. Mike Minor is third at 102.9.

Minor League promotions
• Third baseman Josh Jung, the Rangers' first-round pick in the 2019 Draft, is being assigned to Class A Hickory. The Texas Tech product batted 10-for-17 with a home run for the Arizona Rookie-league Rangers.

• Right-handed reliever Joe Barlow is being promoted to Triple-A Nashville. He allowed two runs in 16 innings and struck out 27 at Frisco.