Right-hander Josh Sborz, a key component of the Rangers’ late-inning leverage relief contingent, will make what could be a one-game rehab outing on Tuesday. Sborz is expected to pitch an inning for Double-A Frisco against Amarillo.
Sborz was placed on the IL with rotator cuff soreness on April 7. He is eligible to return as early as Tuesday, but the Rangers want to make sure he recovers well from pitching stress. If things go well on Tuesday, it’s likely he could be activated Thursday for the series finale against Seattle.
The absence of Sborz combined with the early-season ineffectiveness of José Leclerc has contributed to the bullpen’s early-season struggles. In Sborz’s absence, the Rangers’ bullpen had a 6.29 ERA over the two weeks heading into Sunday. It was the second-worst in the majors in that stretch.
Odds and ends: Right-hander Josh Stephan of Grand Prairie, the Dallas Morning News’ No. 17-ranked Rangers prospect, made his first start of the season for Double-A Frisco on Sunday after missing the first two weeks of the season with what was described as “general back soreness.” Stephan appeared rusty, walking four of the 10 batters he faced. He was removed after 1.1 innings and 42 pitches. … Cincinnati’s Frankie Montas, scheduled to face the Rangers on Friday, left his start after just three batters Sunday after being hit by a bouncer by the Los Angeles Angels Taylor Ward. It’s possible Montas, who ended up with a significant welt on his arm, could need to be skipped.
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