Rangers place Kelley on IL with infection

HOUSTON -- The Rangers placed right-hander Shawn Kelley on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with what the club described as a bacterial infection. The team offered no other details, preferring to keep the matter private.

“I can tell you it’s not baseball related,” assistant general manager Shiraz Rehman said. “It’s not arm related and not pitching related.”

Kelley was unavailable to pitch in Wednesday’s 9-6 victory over the Pirates. Instead, he has returned to Arlington for examination and treatment, and he could rejoin the Rangers this weekend in Houston.

Kelley has a 1.29 ERA and two saves in 14 appearances, and he was being used as the closer after José Leclerc was taken out of the role. Chris Martin will now assume that role.