Rangers’ star second baseman, Marcus Semien, is hopeful that rest will alleviate his neck issue.
In the Rangers’ 8-2 loss to the Marlins on Friday, Semien managed to go 1-for-4 in his return to the lineup after missing the previous game. This absence was notable as it ended his streak of 349 consecutive starts, marking only the ninth game he has missed since the start of the 2019 season.
Semien revealed that he is dealing with a compressed nerve in his neck, as reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The decision to rest on Wednesday and Thursday was made in hopes of alleviating the discomfort and helping him return to form.
“I could have missed more time, but I’m trying to figure out how to fight through it,” Semien said. “It feels better after a day off and another day of rest. I’m happy about that. I just want to come back strong.”
The injury traces back to a collision between Semien and Adolis Garcia while chasing a fly ball on May 18. Since the incident, Semien has struggled at the plate, hitting only .135/.200/.189 over 40 plate appearances in nine games and committing three errors in the field.
As noted by Grant, Semien typically improves as the season progresses, but this neck issue is an unwelcome challenge for a Texas team that has struggled to a 27-30 record in defending last year’s World Series title.
Updates from Around the AL West
Angels: Nolan Schanuel was a late scratch from the lineup on Friday due to left thumb soreness. Manager Ron Washington disclosed that Schanuel has been dealing with this issue for an unspecified period, which may explain his underwhelming .224/.294/.328 slash line through 206 plate appearances. Schanuel, the 11th overall pick in the 2023 draft, has faced a tough follow-up to his promising .275/.402/.330 performance over 132 PA last season after being fast-tracked to the majors.
Athletics: Lucas Erceg was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a forearm strain. Manager Mark Kotsay did not provide a specific timetable for Erceg’s return but indicated that the injury might be minor, as Erceg could start throwing “sooner than later.” This is positive news given the typical severity of forearm injuries. Erceg has been a reliable set-up man for star rookie closer Mason Miller, posting a 2.86 ERA over 22 relief innings with impressive Statcast metrics, including a 31% strikeout rate and a 28% hard-hit ball rate.
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