Texas Rangers: A.J. Griffin Returns and Looks to Slow Down Astros

This series has not gone as according to plan for the Rangers, but it’s not over yet. Starter A.J. Griffin returns from the disabled list, but can he slow down the red-hot Astros bats?

It’s been a series to forget for the Texas Rangers, but they can still take one game. Starter A.J. Griffin returns from the 10-day disabled list and will face Astros starter Joe Musgrove in the series finale.

Griffin was on the disabled list with swelling and inflammation in his left ankle. He will now replace starter Cole Hamels, as he hits the disabled list for at least eight weeks with a strained right oblique muscle. According to T.R. Sullivan, Griffin had this to stay about replacing Hamels on the roster.

“That stinks,” Griffin said. “He’s one of our best pitchers. To have a guy who goes out and wins games and pitches 200 innings every year go down with an oblique strain is brutal. We have to step up with the guys we have here while he’s out.”

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This season Griffin is 2-0 with a 4.11 ERA in three starts with 16 strikeouts. His last start on April 17, he went six scoreless innings against Oakland. He’s either been great or terrible this season, but Texas desperately needs him to stay consistent.

This might be the Rangers best chance as Musgrove is posting a 4.88 ERA this season. He is 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA in his last three outings. The bad news for Texas is he went 6 1/3 innings last start and struck out 13 batters.

The Rangers are striking out a ton this season and need to limit that if you want to be successful. It’s been a tough series for Texas, but they can still take one from Houston on Thursday.