Rangers suffer losses in lineup, standings
The losses are mounting quickly for the Texas Rangers, both in the standings and their starting lineup.
By the time the Rangers finally had their first day off of the season Thursday, the last team in the majors to get a break, they were the first team with 10 losses.
They also found out they will be without No. 3 hitter and 10-season starting shortstop Elvis Andrus for 6 to 8 weeks because of a broken right elbow, though additional tests Thursday determined that he won’t need surgery.
He was hit by a pitch on his throwing arm in the bottom of the ninth inning of their fourth straight loss, 7-2 to the Angels on Wednesday.
“A freak deal ... not a whole lot you can do to prevent it,” Texas general manager Jon Daniels said. “Definitely an emotional one for all us to see him go down.”
Andrus will go on the disabled list for the first time in his career before the series opener in Houston today, when the Rangers plan to recall first baseman Ronald Guzman from Triple-A Round Rock. Guzman will be looking to make his big league debut.
Second baseman Rougned Odor (left hamstring) and center fielder Delino DeShields (left hand) are already on the DL, along with righthander Doug Fister (right hip strain). DeShields has been out since March 31, while Odor and Fister went on the disabled list Tuesday.
“In the interim, there is a toughness that you have to have as a group, as a team, as an organization, to maneuver through things like this,” Manager Jeff Banister said. “Not just on the field, but off the field and where the mindset is at.”
After 14 games in 14 days to open the season, Texas has its worst start since a 3-11 mark in 2002.
“Any time you’re faced with some tough times and adversity, I think there’s obviously a reset here,” Banister said. “In this business, at this level, there is no time down. Nobody pauses and waits for you.”
Jurickson Profar, who started the past two games at second base for Odor, will shift to shortstop to fill in for Andrus.
Minority hiring improves
A diversity report released on Major League Baseball finds the sport is showing improvement with its racial and hiring gender practices, particularly at the league’s central office.
The report card from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport ( TIDES) at Central Florida finds a “significant” increase in racial hiring practices and a “slight” increase in gender hiring. The grade for racial hiring was a B-plus with 88 points, up six points from a year earlier. The grade for gender hiring was a C with 71 points, up one point.
Hurdle criticizes Baez
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle criticized Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez for his bat flip on a popup, and the young slugger brushed off the comments by the former major leaguer.
Baez homered twice for the second straight day in Chicago’s 13-5 victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. But he also flipped his bat high into the air when he popped up to shortstop Jordy Mercer in the seventh inning.
The 25-year- old Baez acknowledged after the win it was a mistake and that a teammate had talked to him about the display.
“Where’s the respect for the game?” Hurdle said. “The guy hits four homers in two days, so that means you can take your bat and throw it 15, 20 feet in the air when you pop up like you should have hit your fifth home run?”
Around the majors
• Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly and the Yankees’ Tyler Austin have been suspended for their roles in Wednesday’s brawl between the AL East rivals at Fenway Park. Kelly was suspended for six games and Austin received a five-game penalty. Each player appealed their punishments, and they are eligible to play while their appeals are considered. In the seventh inning of New York’s 10-7 win Wednesday, Kelly threw at Austin twice.
• Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is expected to make his next start after being hit on the jaw by a line drive against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night. Also, Tigers pitching coach Chris Bosio will be away from the team for a couple of weeks because of an undisclosed health issue.