The Texas Rangers have placed starting pitcher Neftali Feliz on the 15-day DL with an undisclosed elbow injury. Feliz will be replaced in the Rangers rotation by Scott Feldman.
Feliz was having a pretty good season after moving to the Rangers starting rotatoin from the bullpen, posting a 3.16 ERA in 42 2/3 innings. Feliz struck out 37 and walked 23 on the season, but in his last start on Friday against the Astros, he only lasted 4 2/3 innings, walking five and striking out six. Feldman had been working in relief for the Rangers this season, and threw 4 2/3 innings last Monday against the Royals in a spot start, allowing two runs (both unearned) with one walk and one strikeout. For the season, he’s struck out seven and walked four over 15 innings.
Feliz’s injury hurts the Rangers in the short-term, and is apparently just a precautionary move. Feliz got an MRI, but the results still aren’t in yet. The Rangers aren’t expecting this to be serious, but if the MRI reveals some unsavory results, the Rangers could make a play for Roy Oswalt to replace Feliz in the rotation. Alexi Ogando doesn’t appear to be an option despite spending last season in the rotation, because of his overall dominance as a reliever for the Rangers this year, allowing just three earned runs over 25 innings, striking out 25 and walking just five.
Photo courtesy of Daylife.com
[h/t: Hardball Talk]
