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Rangers starter Alexi Ogando has inflammation in pitching shoulder

By Brad Rowland

Aug 13, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington (38) takes out starting pitcher Alexi Ogando (41) out of the game during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 13, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington (38) takes out starting pitcher Alexi Ogando (41) out of the game during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 13, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington (38) takes out starting pitcher Alexi Ogando (41) out of the game during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 13, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington (38) takes out starting pitcher Alexi Ogando (41) out of the game during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

It hasn’t been a “bad” season for Texas Rangers pitcher Alexi Ogando, but it certainly hasn’t been an easy one.

Ogando missed significant time with a shoulder injury earlier in the season, and now, Ogando has been diagnosed with shoulder inflammation just 3 weeks after returning from the disabled list. There are various early reports on Ogando’s current status, but one major report comes from Anthony Andro of FOX Sports indicating that Ogando could miss his next start.

For the season, the right-hander has a 3.47 ERA in 80.1 innings, and that is basically in line with the type of performance that was expected from him in 2013. However, he has visibly struggled at times since returning from the DL on July 23rd, and his failure to strike out hitters is the most damning sign of a problem.

With the Rangers at 70-51 and leading the AL West, any injury to Ogando wouldn’t be an abject disaster. However, the team is very short-handed in the rotation when you consider their division-leading position, and they are still without Matt Harrison as he rehabs from an early-season injury. Hopefully for Texas fans, Ogando can pitch (and pitch effectively) through the irritation, but if he has to be shut down, that news could be coming very soon.

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