Closer Kennedy hits IL with hamstring strain

The Texas Rangers announced on Wednesday that the club has placed right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 6, with a mild left hamstring strain. To take his place on the active roster, the team has selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Spencer Patton from Triple-A Round Rock. Patton will be available for Wednesday’s homestand finale against San Francisco.

Kennedy has no record with 12 saves and a 2.53 ERA (6 ER/21.1 IP) over 21 relief appearances with the Rangers this season. He has gone 12-for-13 in save chances this season and ranks among American League leaders in saves (T3rd, 12) and games finished (T6th, 16). He last pitched on Friday vs. Tampa Bay, when he recorded his 12th save. The first date that Kennedy would be eligible to return is June 16.

Patton has gone 2-0 with 4 saves over 11 relief appearances with Round Rock this season, posting 12.0 scoreless innings with 6 walks, 12 strikeouts, a 1.00 WHIP figure, and .154 opponents batting average. He last pitched on Monday vs. El Paso (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 27 pitches/19 strikes). Patton went 1-0 with a 4.70 ERA (4 ER/7.2 IP) over 9 relief appearances with the Rangers this spring as a non-roster invitee, and also spent time as part of the Rangers’ taxi squad early in the year.

Patton has gone 3-2 with a 6.26 ERA over 52 relief appearances in his MLB career with Texas (2014-15) and Chicago-NL (2016). He will be seeking his first Major League outing since he was with the Cubs on September 24, 2016 vs. St. Louis. He last appeared for the Rangers on August 26, 2015 vs. Toronto at Globe Life Park. Patton spent the last four seasons with the Yokohama BayStars in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Following today’s transactions, the Rangers are now at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with seven players on the 60-day Injured List.