Neftali Feliz out of the mix as Texas Rangers lose their premier closer – MLB Update
Neftali Feliz, the All-Star closer, has been put out on the Texas Rangers’ 15-day disabled list, following a right shoulder injury with inflammation.
The move came on Saturday afternoon and the Texas Rangers General Manager, Jon Daniels, was able to categorise the decision as a ‘cautious’ one for his team’s closer. With a few days left until he is 23-years-old, the premier striker has the hardened task
to get back to full fitness soon.
The ace reported a pain in his rotator cuff during Spring Training. Subsequently, the pitcher informed his club of a shoulder pain during the New York series between April 15 and 17. The situation got worse after the home series at Rangers Ballpark against
the Los Angeles Angels.
"If he was 33 instead of 23 we may treat it a little differently," Daniels said, "but given his age and what he means to the club, we're going to play this one on the safe side, relatively conservatively. We very easily could have just given him a couple
of days off and see how it goes. But we didn't want to take any chances here."
The player will be authorised to pitch on May 6 and in the meanwhile manager Ron Washington will rely on the likes of Darren Oliver and Arthur Rhodes to handle the closing role. Oliver recently picked up a saving win against the Kansas City Royals. The skipper
is not relying on one single reliever to carry out the role, as he may turn to any reliever.
Pedro Strop and Brett Tomko may be called to deliver and that could open up opportunities for pitchers who are trying to establish themselves in the line-up.
"Whoever is down there, we'll do what he have to do to close it out," Washington said. "You're always going to go to one of the veterans first. But if those veterans are not available, then it will be someone else."
The skipper confirmed that if the relievers step up, the Rangers will eventually go up too. He told the reporters that they already have an established closer and that is as simple as it can be.
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