Texas Rangers Place RHP Derek Holland on the DL

Derek Holland, of mustache and World Series fame, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.  The struggling

Rangers – once the hottest team in baseball – have lost five of their last seven games.  However, a bigger loss may be Holland.

Holland was diagnosed with fatigue of the left shoulder.  He 5-4 this season with a 5.10 ERA.  This comes after last season’s breakout success in which he posted a 16-5 record with a 3.95 ERA.  Holland, in addition to the shoulder fatigue, has been battling a stomach virus that has caused him to lose up to 15 pounds.

The move to the disabled list is retroactive to Wednesday, and the Rangers recalled Tanner Scheppers from Triple-A to fill out the roster.  Scheppers was 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA with Triple-A Round Rock.  He will head to the bullpen, and Alexi Ogando will take Holland’s place in the rotation.

Ogando has pitched from the bullpen this season, but he started 29 games for the Rangers last year.  He is currently 1-0 with a 2.27 ERA in 31 2/3 innings this year.  Last season, Ogando went 13-8 with a 3.51 ERA while in the Rangers’ rotation.

Holland was slated to be the Rangers number three pitcher this season behind Yu Darvish and Colby Lewis.  However, he has struggled.  In his last two outings, Holland has given up 11 runs in seven innings of work.  He lasted only 1 2/3 innings on May 30th.  In his last start, a win, Holland lasted 5 1.3 innings and gave up three runs.

Holland’s performance last season earned him a new contract this offseason.  His new contract is for five years, $28.5 million.  There are also two years with team options that could push the contract to seven years.

Texas still holds a four game lead over the Angels, but with Holland on the disabled list, Darvish’s lack of consistency, and their struggles at the plate of late, it won’t take much for Los Angeles to catch them.

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