DIVISIONAL OUTLOOK: AL West—Rangers SP issues

Texas Rangers

Last week in this space, we briefly noted the softness at the back of the Rangers rotation. The other shoe dropped shortly afterward, as the the Rangers announced Matt Harrison's (LHP, TEX) surgery to repair a herniated disk in his lower back, with initial estimates suggesting he'll be out for a minimum of three months. Currently holding down the #4 and #5 rotation spots are Nick Tepesch (RHP, TEX) and Justin Grimm (RHP, TEX), both with some talent but neither with top-of-the-rotation stuff or enough experience beyond High-A ball to expect consistency at the MLB level. To make matters worse, Tepesch was knocked out of his weekend start by a line-drive off his throwing wrist, though the early reports indicate he'll be OK....

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