Gibson (groin), Wood (elbow) go on IL

The Rangers placed right-handers Kyle Gibson (right groin strain, retroactive to Saturday) and Hunter Wood (right elbow discomfort, retroactive to Sunday) on the 10-day injured list prior to the opener against the Angels on Tuesday.

Rangers manager Chris Woodward said Gibson’s injury is “not that big of an issue.”

Gibson’s move to the IL leaves an open spot in the rotation for Texas’ road matchup against Seattle on Thursday. The slot could be filled by Kolby Allard, Woodward said.

“We're considering Allard at the moment,” Woodward said. “We don't really know, obviously, with these games if we have to use him or something comes up, but as of right now, we probably start Kolby. We just can't make it official based on how we're going to use our guys.”

Gibson, who is eligible to return to the active roster on June 1, is 3-0 over 10 starts this season. Entering Tuesday, he ranked among American League leaders in ERA (4th, 2.24), WHIP (5th, 1.01), innings (6th, 60 1/3) and opponents' batting average (7th, .193). Over his last 9 starts, Gibson has a 1.50 ERA (10 ER/60 IP) while holding opponents to a .178 average.

Woodward said the groin issue flared up during a recent bullpen session, adding that Gibson could be back in time for a start against the Rays on June 4 at Globe Life Field.

“It'll be basically skipping a start and then moving him back a couple of days for his next one,” Woodward said.

Meanwhile, Wood had posted a 3.60 ERA in five innings of relief since getting called up from Triple-A Round Rock on May 15. He exited Texas’ game on Saturday against Houston with the right elbow issue. Wood logged 2 2/3 innings and allowed one run in two appearances with Round Rock before his promotion.

Evans anticipating 2021 debut

In a corresponding move, Texas recalled pitcher Demarcus Evans from Triple-A, rejoining the team for the first time since 2020.

The righty allowed one run in four innings in his big league stint in 2020. He did not play in any Cactus League games in 2021 as he dealt with a right lat strain sustained in mid-February.

Evans, 24, made four relief appearances for the Rangers last season, allowing one run over four innings with four strikeouts. He's posted a 1-0 record with a 2.35 ERA (2 ER in 7 2/3 IP) and a .172 opponents' batting average over five relief appearances for Round Rock in May, last pitching on Friday at Tacoma.

“I mean, last year, I made my debut, but there were no fans and I was still kind of nervous,” Evans said on the prospect of pitching in front of fans for the first time in MLB. “I'm thinking about it now, and I was like, 'This is actually gonna be like the real, real.' I mean, it was the real deal last year, but this is kind of the real deal.”

Evans is rated as the Rangers’ No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline.

Texas tidbit

Lefty Wes Benjamin was also recalled with Evans. Benjamin's last appearance with Texas was in Houston on May 14, when he threw 1 2/3 innings and allowed three runs in a relief appearance.