The Rangers got a scare Saturday when Cal Quantrill had to come out in the second inning against the Blue Jays with right lat tightness.
Texas said after the game that Quantrill was removed because of the issue, and the warning signs showed up quickly. Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News noted that Quantrill’s last fastball was just 87.8 mph.
He usually lives in the 93-94 mph range with his heater. After dealing with back tightness in his previous outing, Quantrill had been cleared to start this weekend, but he made it only four outs before manager Skip Schumaker and the trainer checked on him.
Schumaker then turned to lefty Jordan Montgomery.
That short start lands hard for a Rangers staff that has already been stretched thin. Texas used seven pitchers on Thursday against Boston, Montgomery included.
Kumar Rocker lasted only 4 2/3 innings Friday night, though Trevor Williams did help by covering four innings out of the bullpen. The club also recalled left-hander Adam Macko on Saturday, giving Schumaker another fresh arm to work with.
Quantrill’s importance has grown fast for Texas in the AL Wild Card race. He has posted a 2.90 ERA in 31 appearances, 14 of them starts, and had strung together six straight quality starts before the early exit.
Around the division, Astros infielder Carlos Correa is now expected to be ready for the 2027 campaign after his comeback attempt from ankle surgery came to an end earlier this week. Correa told Chandler Rome of The Athletic that trying to force a return this season could have jeopardized next year.
“ I was very hopeful, feeling great, in great baseball shape,” Correa said. “ The tendon was not where it needed to be yet.
… (The doctor) couldn’t guarantee me that pushing through it, nothing would happen on the field.”
The Rangers also moved prospect Sebastian Walcott up to Triple-A, according to McFarland. The 20-year-old has spent most of the season sidelined after undergoing an internal brace procedure in February, but he’s hit .322/.398/.586 in 37 Double-A games this year. He’s not likely to factor into Texas’ plans this season, though he should be part of the conversation for 2027 if he stays healthy.
In Houston, left-hander Steven Okert is not expected back during the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. He won’t begin mound work until next week as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Okert leads the Astros with 21 holds and has appeared in 68 games, and his focus now shifts to a postseason return.
For the Angels, first baseman Nolan Schanuel appears headed for an early finish after a setback on his rehab assignment, manager Kurt Suzuki told reporters, including Jack Janes of the Sporting Tribune. Schanuel was working back from an intercostal strain. He still put together a strong year at the plate, finishing with a 111 wRC+ across 446 plate appearances.
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Rangers Face A Joc Pederson Decision They Cannot Get Wrong
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The Rangers have already leaned on other options atop the lineup, which has only sharpened the question of whether it makes sense to rush Pederson back while he is still limited and coming off a slump. For a club trying to steady its offense and avoid a misstep in a key stretch, this is the kind of decision that can shape more than one series. [Read more 🡒]
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Sebastian Walcott Just Put A Real Rangers Decision In Play
Sebastian Walcotts rise through the Rangers system is moving again, with the infielder set to jump from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock after Frisco finished its season. It is a quick stop, but an important one, especially for a player who came back this spring from internal brace surgery and still managed to put together a strong run at Double-A.
Round Rock will only have him for the final two days of its season, but the timing matters for Texas because Walcott is already viewed as one of the organizations top prospects. The late promotion gives the Rangers another look at how he fits against upper-level pitching, and it also puts a real decision in play about how soon he might be part of the major league mix. [Read more 🡒]