Matt Harrison forced to leave start with back stiffness

Chalk this one up as another piece of bad news when it comes to the health of a top starting pitcher.

Matt Harrison has already lost huge chunks of time in his career to a balky back, namely the entire 2013 season save for two starts. Looking like he was finally healthy in 2014, Harrison was forced to leave his start early Tuesday night against the Houston Astros because of back stiffness.

According to Evan P. Grant of the Dallas Morning News:

As T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes, this is not the first complication Harrison has had with the back this season, something that certainly has to concern the Rangers:

"Harrison was making his fourth start since coming off the disabled list. An 18-game winner for the Rangers in 2012, Harrison made just two starts last year before suffering a herniated disc in his lower back that required two surgeries to correct.He was healthy at the beginning of Spring Training but had some stiffness early in camp that put him two weeks behind and forced him to start the season on the DL.”"

Unfortunately the Ranges know all too well how serious these back injuries can be and how long they can keep guys out of action. That would seem especially to be the risk with Harrison because the injury has become a recurring problem.

Here is hoping that this was a weather thing and nothing more.