HOUSTON — The Texas Rangers have a delicate needle to thread.
They have 11 games left to play in the regular season. They have five players sidelined on the injured list who could each theoretically return between now and then.
“You know how much time you have to work with,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said before Monday’s series opener against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. “Mostly there’s a little sense of urgency with getting these guys back.”
Here’s where things stand with those five players with less than two weeks to play.
Rangers
RHP Tyler Mahle
The Rangers are “figuring out his gameplan this week,” Bochy said, after Mahle threw four scoreless innings in his third rehab start at Triple-A Round Rock Friday. Mahle, out since June 15 with shoulder fatigue, said Monday that he feels physically ready pitch at the major league level and doesn’t any leftover boxes to check in the minors. He threw 52 pitches in his most recent start at Round Rock, struck out six batters and allowed just one hit. Bochy said that the Rangers still have not figured out where they will slot Mahle into the rotation.
2B Marcus Semien
Semien took batting practice on the field before Monday’s game for the first time since he suffered a fracture and sprain in his left foot in an Aug. 21 game against the Kansas City Royals. The 34-year-old has not yet ruled out a regular season return and will attempt to run once he reaches the four-week mark in his recovery before Friday’s game vs. the Miami Marlins at Globe Life Field.
SS Corey Seager
Seager, out since Aug. 29 after an appendectomy, has done some “light jogging” but is still unable to swing a bat. Bochy hesitated to classify the 31-year-old as “day-to-day” but said that “each day, I think, will determine how much work we can do with him.”
LHP Danny Coulombe
The 35-year-old traveled with the Rangers to Houston and could be activated before Tuesday’s game. He pitched two scoreless innings at Double-A Round Rock Friday and Sunday as he works his way back from shoulder fatigue.
OF Sam Haggerty
The Rangers have “backed off” Haggerty’s ramp up after one minor league rehab game because he re-irritated his ankle. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since Aug. 17 with left ankle inflammation and has only played in 17 second-half games due to it. Bochy said that Haggerty will be held out until Wednesday and didn’t rule out a regular season return.
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