The Texas Rangers shook up their pitching staff Sunday, with one move coming because of injury an another because of performance.
The club put lefty Ross Detwiler on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation and designated right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa for assignment. The club brought up right-handers Tanner Scheppers and Ross Ohlendorf from Round Rock to take their roster spots.
"It's no secret our bullpen has scuffled, and we feel we're at a point where we need to go with our best options now," Texas general manager Jon Daniels said. "You always like to be a little more patient and let guys work through things. We're not in that position right now."
Detwiler told the team he was having problems with his shoulder Friday, one day after dropping to 0-5 with his Thursday loss to Kansas City. The Rangers are undecided on who will take his starting spot for Wednesday's game in Boston. One option could be Phil Klein, who is making the transition from reliever to starter in Round Rock. Klein was scratched his start Sunday.
Fujikawa pitched in two games for the Rangers after getting activated from the disabled list. In 1 2/3 innings he allowed three runs and the club now has 10 days to trade, release or outright him. The Rangers signed Fujikawa to a one year, $1 million deal in the offseason that included a club option for 2016. The club expects him to clear waivers.
He opened the season on the disabled list with a groin injury and wasn't activated until Thursday.
Scheppers struggled with the Rangers earlier this season, posting a 11.25 ERA in five outings. But he hasn't allowed a run in Triple A in seven outings and opponents were batting just .130 against him.
Daniels is hopeful Scheppers can help stabilize a bullpen that's been awful in May with a 6.27 ERA.
"Reports from the last few outings have been very good," Daniels said. "I saw one of them, I saw six pitch, all-fastball outing, but last really three outings have been more what you expect out of Tanner, that he's got his confidence back and knows what he needs to do."
