Texas Rangers Lose Jake Burger to Injury
The Texas Rangers have placed first baseman Jake Burger on the 10-day injured list due to a left oblique strain. Burger suffered the injury while batting during Friday night’s victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Infielder Justin Foscue was called up from Triple-A Round Rock and was in uniform for Saturday’s game. Versatile player Ezequiel Duran is expected to be the primary first baseman while Burger recovers.This is the third consecutive season that Burger has entered the injured list due to a side injury. However, Burger is optimistic that he won’t be out for long.I want to give Zeke some time here.
Bruce Bochy, Rangers Manager
Burger was acquired from the Miami Marlins in an offseason trade. Batting .220 with 10 home runs in 65 games after hitting 29 last season. He was demoted to Triple-A for a week in May. In addition, Nathan Eovaldi threw a 50-pitch, three-inning simulated game and Jon Gray had a 35-pitch bullpen session. Eovaldi and Gray are recovering from injuries. Eovaldi could rejoin the rotation next week when Texas plays a three-game series in Baltimore starting Monday night. He has been on the injured list since June 1 due to inflammation in his right posterior elbow. Eovaldi has a 4-3 record and a 1.56 ERA in 12 starts this season.I’ve dealt with this before, and it’s healed quickly. My mind is on returning on the 11th, coming back as soon as I can.
Jake Burger, Rangers First Baseman
Gray hasn’t pitched this season after fracturing his right wrist during spring training. There is no timetable for his return. Center fielder Wyatt Langford was out of the lineup for the second straight game due to back spasms. Bochy expects him to play Sunday in the finale of the three-game series. Foscue made his major league debut last year and hit .048 in 15 games with Texas. In Round Rock this season, he was batting .269 with 10 home runs in 50 games.Everything went well. I threw all my pitches. I feel like I’m ready to return.
Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers Pitcher
