Blanks placed on DL, Ranaudo called up
Rangers first baseman has inflammation in both Achilles tendons
LOS ANGELES -- The Rangers continue to juggle their roster, officially calling up pitcher Anthony Ranaudo and putting first baseman Kyle Blanks on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in both Achilles tendons.
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The Rangers are likely to make another roster move Friday, sending Ranaudo back to Triple-A Round Rock. They could add another reliever or they could go with another position player to replace Blanks. Ranaudo, in just his second start of the season, fired 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits, in Thursday's 1-0 loss to the Dodgers.
There are two prominent players from the Opening Day roster still at Round Rock, so the Rangers may be mulling the possibility of when to bring back pitcher Neftali Feliz and outfielder Ryan Rua. Both are on rehab assignments.
Rua has been on the disabled list since April 11 with a fracture in his right heel and has played in 11 games on a 20-day rehab assignment. He is 6-for-37 with two home runs, going into Thursday, after going 0-for-4 Wednesday.
The Rangers could use another right-handed bat because they are looking at the possibility of facing three left-handed starters -- Chris Sale, Carlos Rodon and Jose Quintana -- during their three-game series with the White Sox in Chicago.
"[Rua] really swung the bat well [Wednesday]," manager Jeff Banister said. "His hands are back in play and his foot and ankle are moving around a lot better. He is close.
"If we need a guy like him and if he is ready, he might be an option for us. But I want the kid to be right. I don't want to push him too quickly. We need him long-term."
Feliz has been on the disabled list since May 20 because of an abscess, and has been pitching at Round Rock since June 6. He has a 6.35 ERA while allowing eight hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. Feliz is healthy, the Rangers are just waiting to see better results.
"We have seen some small spikes in the velocity and similar secondary stuff," Banister said. "He has improved his ball/strike ratio and the energy level has been good. I would think that at some point Neftali would be an option for us. We're keeping a close eye on him and we like the improvements he has made."