ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers continue to have their resolve tested on the injury front.
Wednesday was nothing new.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler, who is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, will be out around two more weeks after an MRI revealed a stress reaction in his right rib area.
That wasn't the only injury setback for the club either as right-hander Colby Lewis, who made a rehab start Saturday, has been pulled off his rehab assignment because of soreness behind his right elbow. The soreness is not related to the flexor tendon surgery Lewis had last year but it did require an injection. The Rangers hope he'll be able to resume his rehab assignment in two weeks.
"That's the nature of injuries," Texas general manager Jon Daniels said. "You can't predict them 100 percent. We've got one of the best medical staffs in the games. When you've got guys coming back from physical ailments you can't 100 percent predict that everybody comes back at a different pace."
Kinsler, who originally hurt himself in Houston after getting hit by a ball while sliding at second base, hasn't done any baseball activities since he went on the 15-day disabled list May 19.
When he resumes baseball activities is still a little up in the air.
"It's one step shy of a stress fracture but in that same family," Daniels said. "We're probably looking at another couple of weeks. It's not an exact timeframe. He's sore right now so it's really until he's asymptomatic."
In Kinsler's absence, the Rangers will continue to use both Jurickson Profar and Leury Garcia at second base. Texas manager Ron Washington said Profar would likely see more time at second than Garcia.
Lewis, who had made three rehab starts, said he was frustrated by the setback but had to get the issue taken care of.
"It's not anything to do with the flexor," Lewis said. "It moved from the outside of the triceps to the inside. I can't go out there and think about my elbow hurting every time I'm trying to get outs."
Lewis has gotten two injections for the muscle issue. He said he didn't have any problems getting loose but said he felt like there was a dull achiness that gets worse the more he throws.
The Rangers did get some good news as Alexi Ogando will make a rehab start for Frisco Friday. Ogando, who is on the DL with right biceps tendinitis, is slated to throw five innings or around 75 pitches. If all goes well, he could return to the rotation June 7 in Toronto.
The Rangers also shuffled their rotation some for the upcoming weekend. Because of Wednesday's rainout, Derek Holland will start Friday's game against Kansas City with Derek Holland going Saturday. Yu Darvish will start the finale.
The club had originally planned to have Martin Perez come up from Round Rock to start Saturday.
