Texas Rangers recall Chi Chi Gonzalez for Thursday start

The Texas Rangers announced on Wednesday that they have recalled pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez. Gonzalez will start for Texas in Thursday night’s game against the Twins, replacing Cole Hamels. It was announced on Tuesday that Hamels would miss the start (and potentially more time) due to a strained groin.

Gonzalez was long-considered to be a potential trade chip in the Rangers’ discussions for Hamels, though he’ll now take the spot of the newly-acquired pitcher. Gonzalez has been fairly successful in his first taste of the big leagues this year, going 2-4 with a 3.74 ERA across seven starts. After posting a sub-1.00 ERA through his first four starts, however, Gonzalez began to struggle, lasting only 1.2 innings and giving up six earned runs in his last start on July 3.

The 22-year-old has been better in the month of August at AAA Round Rock, giving up just three earned runs across two starts (12.0 total innings). The Rangers will hope he can continue to find similar success at the big-league level against Minnesota on Thursday.

Next: Cole Hamels scratched from Thursday start

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