Texas Rangers News

Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker confirmed on Sunday that left-handed reliever Robert Garcia (shoulder) underwent an MRI exam on his sore left shoulder, which kept him out last Thursday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. The Rangers are optimistic that Garcia doesn't have any significant structural damage in his shoulder, but he's still likely to require an anti-inflammatory injection on Monday when the team returns home. Grant writes that in a best-case scenario, Garcia probably won't be available before Wednesday, meaning the Rangers would be without him for a minimum of five days. The Rangers are short-handed in their bullpen early on this year. With Garcia unlikely to be ready to pitch until the middle of this week, Peyton Gray, Patrick Murphy, and Josh Sborz are all options to join Texas' bullpen for more depth. Through his first eight innings of relief for Texas so far in 2026, Garcia has allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits while walking seven and striking out six. In his first year with the Rangers in 2025, Garcia secured the first nine saves of his MLB career.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jakob Junis has done a nice job in the closer role early in the season. Before Thursday's outing, Junis had converted three straight saves. He came into the seventh inning of Thursday's contest against the Athletics. He was blasted for three runs on two hits over 1.1 innings of work. That bad outing will raise his ERA to 2.89 with a 0.75 WHIP across 9.1 innings of work this season. Despite one bad inning, Junis figures to remain the favorite for saves in Texas going forward. He has converted each of his three attempts and could be a sneaky add for fantasy managers looking for help right now.

Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger had a miserable year in 2025, hitting .236 with 16 home runs across 376 plate appearances. However, the 30-year-old has been much better to open 2026, hitting .275/.298/.513 with five home runs, 17 RBI, and 10 runs scored across 84 plate appearances. Burger's 50.9% hard-hit rate is his best mark since 2021. He's also worked his way into an everyday role in the cleanup spot in the Rangers' lineup, putting him in a good spot to continue to rack up RBI. Burger's plate skills remain a question, as he's striking out in 28.6% of his plate appearances while walking at just a 2.4% clip. Still, as long as Burger continues making plenty of hard contact, he profiles as a power bat for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Athletics at Sutter Health Park with a lefty on the mound, according to MLB.com. Ezequiel Duran will make the start at shortstop for the Rangers and will hit ninth against southpaw Jacob Lopez. Seager has five home runs on the season in his first 18 games, but otherwise, he's gone just 13-for-64 (.203) with 12 runs scored, 12 walks, and 20 strikeouts in 78 plate appearances. The veteran left-handed slugger and former World Series MVP should be back in action for Friday's series opener on the road in Seattle against the division-rival Mariners. Duran will be a low-upside deep sleeper for DFS lineups on Thursday out of the nine-hole for the Rangers. The 26-year-old Dominican has gone 8-for-36 (.222) at the plate so far in 2026 with a homer, four RBI, and two steals in 15 games played. He has never faced Lopez in his career.

Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (quad) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Athletics. Langford is returning after missing the last three games due to a minor quad issue. Luckily, Langford was able to avoid a trip to the Injured List and only missed a few contests. The Rangers will ease him back into action by placing him at designated hitter against southpaw Jeffrey Springs on Tuesday. It has been a slow start to the season for Langford, but hopefully he can turn it around now that he's fully healthy. Fantasy managers should make sure to get him active in their lineups ahead of first pitch.

Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger was seeing the ball well in Monday night's 8-1 win over the division-rival Athletics in Sacramento, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, a walk, and a strikeout. Burger got the party started in the first inning with a three-run tater off of right-handed starter Luis Severino, and the Rangers never looked back. He got Severino again for a solo job in the eighth inning. The home runs were the 30-year-old's first since he homered in back-to-back games to begin the 2026 regular season. Burger is known as a streaky hitter, so fantasy managers will want to ride his power bat until he cools off. After his big power performance on Monday night, the former first-rounder by the Chicago White Sox in 2017 out of Missouri State is hitting .246 (16-for-65) with four home runs, 11 RBI, and seven runs scored in 16 games played.

Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (quadriceps) said he has a "small strain" in his quadriceps muscle, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Langford thinks he'll miss just two to three days, and he could pinch hit on Sunday, but he'll avoid the injured list for now. The former first-rounder left Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers early due to quadriceps tightness, and he's considered day-to-day for now. It's good news, but given Langford's pretty lengthy injury history already in the big leagues, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Rangers play it safe and put Langford on the 10-day injured list if he's not feeling better in a couple of days. Ezequiel Duran is making the start in left field for the Rangers in Game 2 of the series against the Dodgers on Saturday, but Sam Haggerty could also see playing time in left for Texas for however long Langford is out. The 24-year-old has gotten off to an ice-cold start in 2026, going 9-for-53 (.170) with a homer, three RBI, four runs scored, a stolen base, one walk, and 13 strikeouts in 13 games played. Langford's power/speed upside makes him a top-25 fantasy outfielder when he's healthy, though.

Across seven innings pitched in 2026, Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jakob Junis has recorded a 0.00 ERA and 0.43 WHIP while going 2-for-2 in save chances. The 33-year-old has recorded just four strikeouts, but he's also allowed just three hits and has yet to walk a batter. With an average fastball velocity of 92.4 mph and four career saves across 854 MLB innings, Junis does not have the profile of a typical closer. However, he was quietly effective across 66 2/3 innings for the Cleveland Guardians in 2025, recording a 2.97 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 55 strikeouts. Perhaps most importantly, the Rangers do not have an established closer in their bullpen. While Cole Winn, Robert Garcia, and Jacob Latz could also get chances in the ninth inning, Junis has a chance to hold the role if he continues to be effective. For fantasy managers in deeper leagues, Junis could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.

Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (quadriceps) left Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with right-quadriceps tightness, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Before leaving the game in the sixth inning, Langford did hit his first home run of the season (a solo shot) in three at-bats. The 24-year-old former fourth overall pick out of the University of Florida in 2023 is a must-roster power/speed threat with lots of upside, but durability has been an issue for him so far in his big-league career. We'll consider Langford day-to-day for now, but given his injury history, fantasy managers should be planning for a trip to the 10-day injured list. It was nice to see Langford touch them all on Friday before his injury, as he came into the series opener in L.A. with a .160 average (8-for-50) with two doubles, two triples, two RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, one walk, and 13 strikeouts in 12 games to begin the year. Langford shouldn't be dumped in any fantasy formats if he lands on the IL. Sam Haggerty would probably see the biggest boost in playing time and AL-only fantasy value if Langford misses extended time with his quad injury. UPDATE: Langford is scheduled to undergo imaging on Saturday. For what it's worth, he believes his quad injury is "pretty minor."

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung remains sidelined for Wednesday's contest against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, per MLB.com. Ezequiel Duran will start at third base and is batting ninth for the Rangers against Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo. It's the third time in the last four games that Jung will start on the bench, with manager Skip Schumaker saying on Tuesday that Jung is "a little banged up." The 28-year-old has been banged up for much of his young career in the big leagues, although he still offers plenty of power upside from the right side of the plate when he's on the diamond. The former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech has not looked great offensively to begin his fifth year in the majors, going 6-for-32 (.188) with no homers, an RBI, one walk, and nine strikeouts in nine contests. Jung is still Texas' primary option at third, but his slow start and more injury issues should have fantasy managers a little worried.

Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (knee) expects to make his next start on his normal turn in the starting rotation, according to Jeff Wilson of All City DLLS. deGrom said that his right knee, which has no structural damage, feels much better on Wednesday. The Rangers pulled deGrom from his last outing early on Monday against the Seattle Mariners as a precaution due to discomfort in his right knee, but testing showed no structural damage, and he's expected to make his next scheduled start this weekend against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's great news for the Rangers and for fantasy managers, especially since the 37-year-old veteran has had a tough time staying healthy later in his career. The five-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young winner has a 3.72 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and one walk in 9 2/3 innings in his first two starts of 2026. He's typically a must-start in fantasy lineups, but managers will want to think twice before deploying him against L.A. while coming off an injury scare.

Texas Rangers reliever Jakob Junis earned his second save of the season in a 3-2 win over the division-rival Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Junis allowed two hits but minimized damage and induced weak contact, throwing 11 strikes out of 15 pitches. The 33-year-old has yet to allow a run or a walk in seven innings pitched this year, and has looked effective in late-game situations. He has progressed steadily over his 10-year career and is expected to earn more high-leverage opportunities if the success continues. Junis is in his first year with Texas after coming over from Cleveland, where he posted a 2.97 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 66 innings.

Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom's (knee) MRI results showed no structural damage in his right knee, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. It was an old injury that flared up. deGrom is scheduled to throw his normal between-starts bullpen to test it out, but the team isn't expecting him to miss a start. Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief that the oft-injured 37-year-old veteran will avoid a trip to the injured list early in the 2026 season. deGrom was pulled from his start on Monday night against the Seattle Mariners as a precaution when he felt tenderness in his knee. The two-time Cy Young winner is typically a must-start in fantasy, but you may want to think twice about that in his next scheduled outing coming off injury against the defending World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers on the road. deGrom has so far allowed four earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out 13 in 9 2/3 innings over his two starts.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (knee) underwent an MRI on his right knee on Tuesday. Rangers' manager Skip Schumaker said the team should find out more following Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. The right-hander was lifted from Monday's start after five innings due to knee soreness. It sounds like deGrom played down the injury, but the team wanted to get imaging done anyway. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Tuesday night or Wednesday for a better update on his status. For now, deGrom is day-to-day, but a better timetable should be available soon.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jakob Junis earned his first save of the season on Monday by shutting down Seattle in the ninth inning of a close, 2-1 victory. Junis faced the middle of the Mariners' order and got Cal Raleigh to ground out to start the inning and Josh Naylor to hit into a game-ending double play after he hit Julio Rodriguez with a pitch. Junis only needed four pitches to get through the inning after Robert Garcia worked the eighth inning and earned a hold against the bottom of the order. Garcia and Chris Martin have had some early-season struggles, while Junis has worked six scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. He could continue to get opportunities, and he makes sense as a speculative addition if you're searching for saves on the waiver wire. He isn't the primary closing option yet, but with more outings like Monday's, he could secure that role soon.

Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that right-hander Jacob deGrom (knee) felt something in his knee before his start on Monday against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. The Rangers didn't want to push the oft-injured deGrom too hard, which is why he only went 78 pitches in the 2-1 win in the series opener. deGrom managed to make it five innings but took a no-decision, allowing an earned run on a solo homer while walking one and striking out six. "I feel OK, it's a little tender, but I think we'll be okay," said deGrom. Fantasy managers familiar with deGrom's injury history won't be surprised if his next start is pushed back or if he lands on the 15-day injured list eventually. deGrom will be a much riskier fantasy starter in his next outing after dealing with knee discomfort, as he's set to face the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 37-year-old two-time Cy Young winner allowed three earned runs with no walks and seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 frames in his first start of 2026 against the Orioles.

Texas Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow) has been sent to Triple-A Round Rock on an injury rehab assignment as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Bradford has progressed well and is expected to return in May if his rehab continues without setbacks. The 28-year-old did not appear in a game last season and owns a 4.28 ERA across 34 career appearances, including 21 starts. Bradford, the 175th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft is working to establish consistency at the Major League level and could compete for a role in the Rangers rotation upon his return.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was excellent in 2025, posting an 11-3 record with a 1.73 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 129 strikeouts across 130 innings (22 starts). However, the 36-year-old right-hander has been unable to repeat his stellar performance early in the 2026 season. Across his first two starts of the year, Eovaldi has allowed 16 hits, 11 earned runs, and three walks across 8 2/3 innings of work. Still, there may not be a reason for fantasy managers to panic just yet. Eovaldi is suffering from a 3.12 HR/9 and a 54.1% strand rate, both of which should regress closer to his career norms of 1.00 and 72.9% over a larger sample size. Additionally, Eovaldi's average fastball velocity has actually increased from 94.4 mph in 2025 to 94.8 mph in 2026, and he has posted a stellar 26.7% strikeout rate amidst his larger struggles. Eovaldi's age makes his early-season decline a bit more concerning, but the veteran could easily return to form with some improved luck going forward.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (neck stiffness) will start Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, according to an announcement from the team. deGrom was scratched from his scheduled season debut last week due to neck stiffness, but he only missed one start and will now make his season debut on Tuesday. The veteran right-hander can be an elite pitcher when healthy, but starts have been hard to come by due to his recent injury history. He made just 22 total appearances from 2022-2024 before returning for 30 starts in a healthy 2025 campaign. Across those 30 starts (172.2 innings) last year, he posted a 3.37 xFIP with 9.64 K/9, 1.93 BB/9, and a 37.8% ground ball rate. He allowed more loud contact than usual, including a career-worst 1.36 HR/9. However, he still managed to be a highly effective starter in the Rangers' rotation and ultimately posted his highest fWAR total since 2021. As long as he can stay healthy this year, deGrom should continue to be one of the most dependable starters in baseball. He currently ranks #12 among starting pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter allowed two earned runs, five hits, and one walk during Monday's 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. He also struck out eight batters and earned the win. It was an impressive season-opening outing from the young right-hander, who is looking to build off a breakout campaign in 2025, when he went 10-10 with a 3.86 ERA and 8.78 K/9 across 29 starts. Now that he has established himself as a consistent rotation piece, he should rack up innings and become an intriguing starting pitching option for fantasy baseball managers. As it stands, he ranks #62 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings. He's projected to return to the mound on Sunday, April 5, against the Cincinnati Reds. It'll be an exciting pitching matchup as Leiter toes the rubber opposite Chase Burns.