The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has placed first baseman Mike Napoli on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday, with a lower back strain. The team has activated left-handed pitcher Dario Alvarez from the 10-day disabled list, and he will be available for tonight's series opener against the New York Mets.
Napoli has played in just 3 of the first 6 games in the club's current homestand, and he exited his last contest on Saturday against Houston after 4 innings. He is batting .192 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI over 51 games with the Rangers this season. He hit 8 home runs in May, which were tied for seventh-most in the American League, and his 11 HR for the year rank second on the club to only Joey Gallo (16). This is just Napoli's second disabled list stint since 2013. The first date he would be eligible to return is June 14.
Alvarez was placed on the 10-day disabled list on May 28, retroactive to May 26, with a left elbow strain. The former Mets pitcher has a 2-0 record with a 3.48 ERA (4 ER/10.1 IP) over 13 relief appearances for Texas this season. He was on the club's Opening Day roster before being optioned on May 7 and recalled the next day.
After today's transactions, the Rangers still have 39 players on the major league roster, along with 5 players on the 60-day disabled list.