AJ Griffin Headed To DL, Claudio Recalled

The Texas Rangers have placed starting pitcher AJ Griffin on the 15-Day Disabled List and recalled Alex Claudio from AAA Round Rock.

AJ Griffin has been placed on the 15-day Disabled List with right shoulder stiffness after being removed from the Rangers game Saturday afternoon in the third inning of his start.

Griffin’s next start would have likely been this coming Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays the next slot for the fifth starter game. With the way the Rangers schedule allows for Texas to skip Griffin’s start Friday though with the off-day Thursday. Following that, the next start for Griffin would be Wednesday the 18th against the Athletics.

To fill this role, the Texas Rangers have a couple of options. If Yu Darvish is ready to pitch after his next rehab start Thursday for the Frisco Roughriders, then potentially, Texas could activate Darvish for him to make his first start of the 2016 season. If Darvish isn’t ready to return to the Major League rotation, the Rangers would then need to likely fill just one start in the rotation before Darvish returns.

Claudio had been sent down on Saturday to make room for Drew Stubbs on the active roster but never left Detroit before he was recalled to fill the void left by Griffin.

Griffin has been one of the best pitchers in the rotation for Texas this season after coming off two seasons out after suffering Tommy John surgery in 2013. Once Griffin and Darvish both return, the Rangers will have a decision to make with the starting rotation having effectively six quality starters.

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