The Texas Rangers have placed staff ace Yu Darvish on the 15 day Disabled List with a strained right trapezius muscle. The move means that Darvish will miss at least 2 starts, as well as forfeit his spot on the American League all-star team.
Darvish, in his second year in the majors, is the MLB strikeout leader with 157 k’d batters in just 119 1/3 innings. Over 18 starts this season he is 8-4 with a 3.02 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
The Rangers are downplaying the seriousness of the injury, saying that they expect Darvish back as soon as the 15 days are up.
Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine says, “At this stage, it’s not something we are really worried about.” He says the injury “was a little more fatigue than anything.”
In a statement, Darvish said, “I don’t think it’s a big issue, but just as a precaution, I’d rather skip a start than push it through.”
Texas entered play Wednesday with a half-game deficit behind the Oakland A’s in the AL West standings.
Darvish will be replaced on the All-Star team by Tampa Bay Rays Starter Matt Moore. Moore goes into the break at 13-3 with a 3.44 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 107 innings. Moore, 24, will be making his first All-Star appearance.
In other all star game news, Toronto Blue Jays Relief Pitcher Steve Delabar and Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman won the fan voting for the final spots on the AL and NL all-star teams, respectively.
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