### Jon Gray Injury Adds to Rangers’ Concerns
Jon Gray is the latest pitcher for the Texas Rangers to be sidelined with an injury. The defending World Series champions have placed Gray on the 15-day injured list due to a strained right groin, effective retroactively from May 22.
The Rangers’ starting rotation has been severely affected by injuries, with Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Tyler Mahle, Nathan Eovaldi, and now Gray all unavailable.
Gray’s last appearance was on Tuesday, where he pitched five innings, giving up two runs on four hits in a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. He struck out four batters and walked three.
The 32-year-old has been performing well this season, boasting a 2-2 record with a 2.21 ERA over 11 appearances, including 10 starts. He has allowed 51 hits, struck out 56 batters, and walked 16 over 57 innings, with just two home runs and a commendable 2.52 FIP.
This marks Gray’s third season with the Rangers after spending the first seven years of his career with the Colorado Rockies. He has shown improvement with Texas, recording ERAs of 3.96 and 4.12 in his first two seasons with the club, compared to a 4.59 ERA with the Rockies.
### Rangers’ Struggles Amid Injuries
Despite the injuries, the Rangers are managing to stay competitive. As of Thursday, their record was 24-27, placing them three games behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. However, their performance has declined recently, with a 3-9 record following a 21-16 start earlier in the month.
While the injuries to the starting rotation are a significant factor in Texas’ struggles, other issues have also contributed. The offense has not been as potent as it was in 2023. The Rangers currently rank 11th in batting average, 14th in OPS, 13th in home runs, and 10th in runs scored. In contrast, they were second in batting average and third in OPS, home runs, and runs scored last year.
The bullpen has also been problematic, ranking last in the majors with a 5.14 ERA. This combination of an injury-riddled starting rotation and a struggling bullpen makes winning games challenging.
However, playing in a weak division has allowed Texas to remain in contention. If they can get key pitchers like Scherzer back and see improved performances from batters like Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, they have a chance to make a playoff run. Seager, in particular, has been performing well recently.
The Rangers’ ability to defend their World Series title will depend significantly on improved health and better performances in the coming months.
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