ARLINGTON, Texas — Pain in Joc Pederson’s fractured left hand has gone from “sharp” to “dull,” the Texas Rangers designated hitter said Thursday, but he is still a “couple of days at the absolute quickest” from swinging a bat, The Dallas Morning News reported. Pederson does not know when he will be cleared.
On Thursday at Globe Life Field, the 34-year-old gripped a light bat to test the strength in the hand. He said the swelling “has gone down quite a bit” since Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt hit him with a pitch Saturday at Chase Field. An MRI on Monday found a small fracture.
Before he can face a pitcher, Pederson has a series of steps to clear. He will start with dry swings, move to swings against foam balls, and then hit off a tee.
Through 136 games, Pederson is hitting .235/.329/.487 with 26 home runs and 53 RBI. Texas has 9 games left and is 76-77, one game behind the Houston Astros in the American League West.
Cal Quantrill Set To Start Saturday Against Toronto Blue Jays
Cal Quantrill said Thursday that he is “good to go” after back tightness forced him out of Sunday’s game at Arizona. His line in that 7-6 Texas win was 6 innings, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, and 4 strikeouts on 70 pitches.
The Rangers announced him later Thursday as their starter for Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander José Soriano. First pitch is 6:05 p.m. CT.
Quantrill threw off a slope Thursday and “came out okay,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. Schumaker also discussed the session during his pregame segment on Rangers Sports Network.
“He’s feeling better today,” Schumaker said. “Threw, I don’t know, not too many off the mound, off the slope today. Just out there, maybe 10 pitches total. But he felt good, and he’s ready for his next start.”
Quantrill is 9-5 with a 2.90 ERA over 31 appearances, 14 of them starts, and 108 2/3 innings. Since the start of August, he has a 1.80 ERA over nine games. In three career starts against Toronto, he has a 1.59 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
MacKenzie Gore Sore, Jack Leiter Throwing Again
On Thursday, Schumaker said MacKenzie Gore is “sore” after pitching through muscle spasms in his back and shoulder area Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. He had no other substantial update. Gore’s line in the 7-3 win was 4-plus innings, 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 3 walks, and 0 strikeouts. He threw 36 of his 69 pitches for strikes.
After Wednesday’s game, Schumaker said the spasms were affecting Gore’s control.
“He had muscle spasms that were going on kind of in the back and his shoulder area,” Schumaker said. “Not the actual shoulder, but underneath the shoulder. And a little bit similar to what he had in Colorado a few months ago when we pulled him. It calmed down after the second inning, and he didn’t feel anything in the third inning. Kind of came back a little bit in the fourth.”
On May 18 at Coors Field, Gore came out after one inning against the Colorado Rockies because of left lat tightness. He reported soreness the next day and then pitched five days later, The Dallas Morning News reported. Gore is 8-11, and his 32 starts are tied for the most in the majors. His next turn tentatively lines up for Tuesday against the New York Mets.
Jack Leiter has resumed throwing after a two-week shutdown. The Dallas Morning News attributed the shutdown to irritation in his surgically repaired right ankle. He is expected to throw a bullpen session Sunday, and he will likely throw another before he is reevaluated.
Leiter, 26, has been sidelined for three months. He underwent arthroscopic surgery June 23 to remove a loose body from his right ankle. On Aug. 28, the Rangers shut him down after biceps soreness in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Round Rock, as Dallas Sports Journal wrote. At best, he may be an option if Texas reaches the postseason, The Dallas Morning News reported. If the Rangers do not get there, Leiter said his top priority is a healthy offseason.
Over 15 starts this season, Leiter is 3-7 with a 5.29 ERA across 80 innings. Texas took him second overall in the 2021 draft.
Kumar Rocker opens the Toronto series Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT against Dylan Cease. Jacob deGrom starts Sunday’s 1:35 p.m. CT finale. All three games air on Rangers Sports Network.
