The Texas Rangers just keep getting hit with injuries. In a week where they lost starting second baseman Jurickson Profar, and starting catcher Giovani Soto with long-term injuries; they now learn that their scheduled opening day starter Yu Darvish will miss that start. Darvish has had a sore neck since last week and has already been scratched from one spring training start.
Darvish will be examined later this week by a head and neck specialist. The Rangers are hoping that he will only miss one start and will not be forced to start the season on the disabled list.
The 27-year-old Darvish was 13-9 last season with a 2.83 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 209 2/3 innings. He had 277 strikeouts and only 80 walks, establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in the major leagues, and living up to the hype that had him get the highest international posting fee in MLB history.
Darvish is 29-18 with a 3.34 ERA in his 61 games with the Rangers over the past two seasons, and his 498 strikeouts are the most in the majors during that span.
With Yu Darvish scratched, and fellow starters Matt Harrison and Derek Holland also injured, it is an extremely trying time for the Rangers pitching staff. At this point it is not clear who will start for Texas on opening day.
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