Rangers place RHP Yu Darvish on 15-Day Disabled List; option RHP Josh Lindblom

The Texas Rangers announced today the following four roster moves:

• RHP Yu Darvish placed on 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 7, with right trapezius strain
• RHP Josh Lindblom optioned to Round Rock (AAA)
• LHP Joseph Ortiz (#58) recalled from Round Rock (AAA)
• RHP Wilmer Font (#53) recalled from Round Rock (AAA)

Darvish had been scheduled to start tonight. This is the first disabled list stint in his big league career. The first date he would be eligible to return is July 22, when the Rangers open a 4-game series with the New York Yankees in Arlington. He has gone 8-4 with a 3.02 ERA (40 ER/119.1 IP) in 18 games/starts for Texas this season. He leads the majors with 157 strikeouts and 11.84 strikeouts-per-9 innings. He leads the American League with a .194 opponents average, 4th-lowest in the majors.

Lindblom took the loss last night, allowing 6 runs in 5.1 innings. He threw 119 pitches in last night's outing, the first Texas pitcher with as many pitches while recording 16-or-fewer outs since Rick Helling on June 7, 2000 vs. Los Angeles-NL. Lindblom has gone 1-3 with a 5.46 ERA (19 ER/31.1 IP) in 8 games/5 starts over three stints with Texas this season.

Ortiz will be in his third stint with Texas this season, the others Opening Day-June 4 and June 18-21. He has gone 2-1 with a 5.08 ERA (16 ER/28.1 IP) in 22 relief appearances for the Rangers this season in his first career major league action. He issued a walk to his lone batter faced in his last game with Texas on June 20 vs. Oakland. Ortiz has spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Round Rock, going 1-1 with one save and a 3.68 ERA (6 ER/14.2 IP). Opponents have 3 walks and 18 strikeouts against Ortiz at Triple-A. His last appearance was Sunday vs. Omaha (Save, 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 17 pitches/12 strikes).

Font will be in his first stint with Texas this season. He made his major league debut with the Rangers last year, allowing 2 runs in 2.0 innings over 3 appearances as a September call-up. He has combined to go 2-2 with 11 saves and a 1.27 ERA (5 ER/35.1 IP) in 30 relief appearances for Frisco (AA) and Round Rock this season. He began the year with Frisco, going 1-2 with 10 saves and a 1.41 ERA (5 ER/32.0 IP) in 26 games before his promotion to Triple-A on June 29. He is 1-0 with one save for the Express in his first Triple-A action, allowing one unearned run in 3.1 innings over 4 outings. He recorded a save in his last outing on Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 16 pitches/10 strikes). Font allowed 4 runs in 2.2 innings spanning 3 appearances for the Rangers this spring.

With these moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.