Injury ends Gray's night, raises questions

ARLINGTON -- Prior to Monday night’s matchup with the Orioles, Rangers manager Chris Woodward spoke highly of Jon Gray's recent stretch (a 2.65 ERA in 11 starts since June 1) and how well the right-hander has pitched when healthy.

Unfortunately, the clean bill of health didn’t last much longer. In the second inning of Texas' series-opening 7-2 loss to the Orioles, Gray began to feel something like a cramp in his left side.

“I've never had anything like that, like an oblique thing, before, so I thought it was a cramp,” he explained. “I stretched out a little bit, but with each pitch, I kept feeling it. One of them hurt pretty bad so I kind of knew something wasn't right.”

In the middle of Anthony Santander’s at-bat, Woodward and trainer Matt Lucero jogged out to the mound and talked with Gray for a few moments before it was decided he would depart. Gray exited the game with just one out in the second inning after logging 48 pitches. He turned the game over to Jose Leclerc with the bases loaded and one out and Santander in a 1-2 count.

Gray will get further testing on Tuesday and will continue to be evaluated by the Rangers’ medical staff in the coming days. Woodward noted that the best case scenario feels like Gray would miss just one start with what the club later officially stated was “left side discomfort.”

“I’m hopeful that we’ll get good news tomorrow,” Woodward said. “He’ll probably get a scan, do all the above, see how he feels and what it looks like. Hopefully it's nothing major. I just hope it's not too long term. Those injuries, if they’re somewhat significant, keep guys out for a while. Especially throwing that hard.”

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With the thought of Gray potentially due to miss an extended period of time, the Rangers will have to figure out options to replace him in the rotation behind Martín Pérez (if he’s not traded before Tuesday's Deadline), Dane Dunning, Spencer Howard and Glenn Otto. The back half of the rotation has already been inconsistent, so (good) options are limited.

The Deadline is coming up quickly, with some time left for Texas to add an external option, but here's a look at some potential internal fixes for the time being.

Bring back Taylor Hearn

If the Rangers don’t acquire a starter in the final hours before the Trade Deadline, Hearn is likely the immediate option until things can be ironed out fully.

Hearn opened the season in the rotation, was relegated to the bullpen back in June and was ultimately then sent down to Triple-A Round Rock soon after. Woodward has said he believes Hearn is more useful in a multi-inning reliever role where he doesn’t face a lineup more than one time through, but a spot start or two wouldn’t be out of the picture.

Hearn has a 6.25 ERA as a starter and 1.59 ERA as a reliever this season.

Prospects

Even before Gray's injury, one of the Rangers’ heralded pitching prospects would have conceivably made a strong case to earn a callup at this point in the season.

However, the best pitching prospects at Triple-A Round Rock, only Cole Ragans (No. 28) is having a worthwhile season. The lefty posted a 2.81 ERA over 10 starts with Double-A Frisco before getting a call up in mid-June. Since then, he’s earned a 3.32 ERA with the Express over 43 1/3 innings. While Ragans is the only prospect in Triple-A having an above average year, he also has the most limited time at that level, which could make a difference in if he gets a callup or not.

The other prospect options include Cole Winn (No. 5, MLB No. 77) and A.J. Alexy (No. 23).

Winn was expected to make his Major League debut this season, but has struggled in his second season in Triple-A. He had just two starts with the Express last year, but made the most of it, allowing just three earned runs over eight innings. This season, he’s had issues with his command and control, bringing his ERA to 5.72 and likely delaying his debut.

Alexy had a cup of coffee in the big leagues last season, but didn’t make the Opening Day roster and has struggled in Triple-A this season to a 6.42 ERA.