Rangers’ starter Tyler Mahle has been out all season rehabbing from injury but is now close to a return.
The Texas Rangers have faced challenges with consistency this season, but they might see a significant boost in the second half. Positive injury updates suggest that ace Jacob deGrom is nearing his return, and now there’s potential for another key addition to the rotation.
Rangers’ manager Bruce Bochy has indicated that pitcher Tyler Mahle might start against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, according to Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News on X. If this happens, it would mark Mahle’s first appearance in a Rangers’ uniform.
Mahle’s 2023 season was cut short by Tommy John surgery in May, and he signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Rangers during the offseason. He has yet to pitch for his new team as he continues his recovery.
The 29-year-old veteran spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2022. His last full season was in 2021 with the Reds, where he recorded a 13-6 record, a 3.75 ERA, an ERA+ of 125, and 210 strikeouts in 180 innings.
Rangers’ Tyler Mahle nearing 2024 debut
Tyler Mahle has performed well during his rehab assignment with the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate. In his final preparation for his big league season debut, Mahle pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four batters, according to MLB.com. Over six rehab appearances in the minors, Mahle has posted a 2.50 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 18 innings.
The Rangers had high hopes for Mahle and Jacob deGrom to join Nathan Eovaldi and Max Scherzer in a formidable rotation, which they believed could drive a strong second-half push and secure a postseason return.
However, the Rangers recently lost Scherzer to the 15-day injured list, marking his second IL stint this season. The 40-year-old veteran has made only eight starts and pitched 39.1 innings for Texas so far this year.
Currently, the Rangers are 5.5 games behind the Astros and the Seattle Mariners in the AL West as of Saturday. To have a shot at overtaking these teams and claiming the division, they will need their rotation at full strength. Fans are hopeful that Mahle’s anticipated return on August 6 will mark the beginning of a resurgence for the team. Mahle’s season debut is set to come against the Astros, intensifying the division race.
