Rangers place Alexi Ogando on disabled list
By Brad Rowland
With the positive news coming from Neftali Feliz’s rehab appearance, the Texas Rangers looked to be on the rise in terms of available pitching. However, they got some negative news on Tuesday as the team was forced to place Alexi Ogando on the 15-day disabled list.
On the bright side, Ogando’s stint on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation will be backdated to the date of his last appearance (August 13th against Milwaukee), but he will still be sidelined for at least 8 additional days. This is the third trip to the DL this season for Ogando, who has famously been pulled back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation during this time in Texas.
For the 2013 season, Ogando has a 3.47 ERA in 80+ innings, but his peripherals (5.02 xFIP, 3.70 BB/9) suggest that his success has been a bit lucky in sustaining that solid ERA. The dip in statistical production could be a product of the shoulder inflammation, but unless he is at full strength, it is difficult to envision him helping the Rangers down the stretch.
Texas is in the midst of a full-on playoff push at this stage, and with previous injuries to Matt Harrison and Colby Lewis, they are in desperate need of a complete recovery/return from Ogando. We will monitor his progress in the coming days, but it bears watching whether he is activated from the DL in the minimum time frame.