Texas Rangers News: Another injury, biggest series of September, more

The Texas Rangers open up a big series against the Houston Astros that could make or break their playoff march. Should they take the series, they will officially be back in the AL West race. Should they lose 2 of 3 or get swept, they will be formally out of the hunt.

One of the team's big deadline pickups, Merrill Kelly, will get the chance to show that he was worth the prospect capital Texas gave up when he pitches the first game of the series on Friday night.

Kelly has won his last two starts, most recently allowing three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 9-3 victory over the Athletics on Saturday. He is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA over his six appearances with the Rangers since being acquired from Arizona at the trade deadline. Kelly has just two career starts against the Astros and lost his only decision while amassing a 0.73 ERA over 12 1/3 innings. The newest Texas Rangers pitcher has not faced Houston since that loss in 2023 while pitching as a member of the Diamondbacks.

Texas Rangers Danny Coulombe goes on the IL

On Thursday, a team that had been hit hard by injuries in the last few weeks had another injury. This time, it was lefty reliever Danny Coulombe, who hasn't pitched since August 26 due to shoulder soreness. The move to the 15-day pitching IL is retroactive to September 1, meaning Coulombe could be activated on September 16.

In the meantime, the Rangers have activated reliever Cole Winn, who will be able to help a tired bullpen against the division-leading Astros.

Adolis Garcia's injury situation

While Coulombe is on the IL, the Rangers have avoided putting outfielder Adolis Garcia on that list. He's nursing a quad strain that the team is hoping has healed up with rest over the last few days.

If everything works out, he could return to the lineup on Friday. At the very least, the Texas Rangers would like to use him as a bench bat that could come through big in the late innings.