Rangers’ Colby Lewis Placed on the DL

Nothing new here, just more injured Rangers pitchers.  Colby Lewis is the most recent Rangers’ pitcher to hit the disabled list.  The Washington Postpoints out the Rangers have averaged about one pitcher per week to hit the disabled list in the last five

weeks.  This came after they went six weeks without a single player hitting the DL.  Lewis was placed on the 15-day DL yesterday with an inflamed right forearm.

The tendinitis started flaring up after his last start on June 17th.  Since the pain and inflammation has not gone away, the Rangers had no choice but the add Lewis to the growing list of injured pitchers on the DL.

“It’s just one of those situations, better to be safe than sorry, and not push the issue now and not be able to be there for these guys at the end of the year,” Lewis said. “You have to listen to your body, and I’m not going to push it.”

Lewis is 6-6 with a 3.51 ERA this season.  He’s been one of the Rangers best pitchers this year, and he is averaging his lowest number of walks per nine innings of his career.  In his eight seasons, Lewis has a career ERA of 4.78.  However, much of that is loaded with early-career struggles.  He had ERA’s of 6.29 and 7.30 in his first two years in the league.

With the injury, the Rangers have called up prospect Martin Perez.  Roy Oswalt was recently called up as well. He has made one start and performed well.  The Rangers expect to get Alexi Ogando and Derek Holland back soon, but they will need consistently healthy pitchers if they are to maintain their lead in the American League West.

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