Marcus Semien went 1-for-4 within the Rangers’ 8-2 loss to the Marlins yesterday, marking his return to the lineup after sitting out Texas’ earlier recreation. Whereas off-days aren’t usually value point out, Semien’s absence from Wednesday’s lineup ended a streak of 349 begins for the star second baseman, and it represented solely his ninth missed recreation for the reason that begin of the 2019 season. The choice was made since Semien is coping with a compressed nerve in his neck, as he advised Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning Information and different reporters yesterday, and the hope is that resting each Wednesday and Thursday (when the Rangers didn’t have a recreation) will assist get Semien again on observe.
“I might have missed extra time, however I’m making an attempt to determine tips on how to battle via it,” Semien mentioned. “It feels higher after a day without work and one other day of relaxation. I’m joyful about that. I simply wish to come again robust.”
The harm stems from a collision between Semien and Adolis Garcia whereas the 2 had been chasing the identical fly ball on Could 18. Semien has hit solely .135/.200/.189 over 40 plate appearances within the 9 video games for the reason that collision, and likewise made three errors within the subject. As Grant notes, Semien’s profession splits point out that he’s usually a greater hitter anyway later within the season, although this neck difficulty provides an unwelcome difficulty for a Texas membership that has struggled to a 27-30 report in its protection of final yr’s World Collection title.
Extra from across the AL West…
- Talking of lingering accidents, Nolan Schanuel was a late scratch from the Angels’ lineup yesterday on account of left thumb soreness. Supervisor Ron Washington advised MLB.com and different media that Schanuel has been bothered by his thumb for an unspecified time frame, which might clarify the primary baseman’s underwhelming .224/.294/.328 slash line via 206 plate appearances. It has nonetheless been lower than a yr since Schanuel was chosen because the eleventh total decide within the 2023 draft, and his 2024 numbers have been a tricky follow-up to his stable .275/.402/.330 mark over 132 PA final season, after the Angels fast-tracked him to the majors after simply 97 minor league PA.
- Lucas Erceg was positioned on the Athletics’ 15-day injured listing yesterday with what formally termed a forearm pressure, and supervisor Mark Kotsay didn’t give reporters (together with MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos) a timetable on when the reliever could be able to return to motion. Nevertheless, it does seem to be Erceg’s harm could be of the comparatively minor selection, as Kotsay indicated that Erceg would possibly be capable of begin throwing “ahead of later.” That’s definitely excellent news contemplating the ominous nature of forearm accidents, so it looks like Erceg might quickly resume set-up duties in entrance of star rookie nearer Mason Miller. Erceg has a 2.86 ERA over 22 aid innings, with a set of spectacular Statcast metrics that embody an excellent 31% strikeout fee and 28% hard-hit ball fee.
