The Rangers got a lot of bad news on Wednesday. Per MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the club placed starter Derek Holland on the 15-day disabled list due to inflammation in his left shoulder. Shortly thereafter, Colby Lewis joined him due to a strained lat muscle which is expected to keep him out of action for as many as two months. To put a cherry on top of the Rangers’ crap sundae, they shut down pitching prospect Mike Matuella with a right elbow ligament sprain.
Holland, 29, was struggling to a 5.20 ERA and a 43/25 K/BB ratio in 72 2/3 innings. His 7.9 percent walk rate is his highest since 2011 and his 13.7 percent walk rate would be a career low if the season ended today.
Lewis, 36, was hit hard in Tuesday’s start against the Reds, giving up six runs in five innings. He flirted with a perfect game last Thursday. On the season, he has a terrific 3.21 ERA with a 61/19 K/BB ratio in 98 innings.
Matuella, 22, was selected by the Rangers in the third round of the 2015 draft. He made only one start with Single-A Spokane, tossing three scoreless innings. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the Rangers’ seventh-best prospect