Josh Jung landed on the injured list Saturday afternoon ahead of another important game for the Texas Rangers, who are still waiting on Corey Seager’s return.
ARLINGTON — Skip Schumaker said something Saturday afternoon that those who have been around the Texas Rangers since, oh, 1972 have known all too well: It’s always something.
Every day, rain or shine, hot or cold, win or lose, the Rangers’ manager has always had to deal with an issue. In this case, the something has been injuries.
Third baseman Josh Jung hit the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained left calf that he and the Rangers initially believed would cost him only Wednesday’s game. But Jung couldn’t run at even 50 percent effort Friday, and he showed no improvement Saturday.
His injury comes at the worst possible time, with the Rangers in the midst of their most important series in their most important stretch this season. The Mariners are in town for a four-game series between the top two teams in the American League West, and the outcome could dictate how the Rangers’ front office approaches the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
“Next man up,” Schumaker said. “This is what it literally is. There’s no way else to explain it. We have guys that are excited to play tonight against a really good team, and I’m excited for them. That is the truth.”
Jung is one of 14 Rangers on the IL, though the hope is he will return next weekend for the series in Houston. He was removed early from Tuesday’s game, missed Wednesday but was expected back after the off day Thursday. Schumaker said that he had Jung in his initial starting lineup for Friday until watching him run.
“I wasn’t trying to hide anything,” Schumaker said.
The Rangers hope that shortstop Corey Seager is back soon, though the team continues to play things cautiously with the two-time World Series MVP and their words.
Schumaker said there is no way of knowing when Seager will return because of the nature of his back injury and because the Rangers aren’t sure if he will play games on a rehab assignment. Seager is scheduled for a second session of live batting practice Sunday and could be reinstated Monday.
But everything has to go perfectly with how he recovers from the live BP and the decision has to be made that Seager won’t rehab. It’s possible he doesn’t play Monday but travels with the Rangers to Tampa Bay and plays Tuesday. Or he goes on a brief rehab assignment and joins the team on the road whenever he says he’s ready.
“There’s different things that could happen,” Schumaker said. “Quite honestly, it could be a rehab. It could be another live. I’m not really sure.”
Could Seager be back Monday for the series finale against the Mariners?
“I’m not going to say no, but I’m not going to say yes,” Schumaker said. “I don’t think so, but … I don’t know. It’s been so day to day.”
The Rangers recalled Josh Smith from Triple A Round Rock and started him at third base Saturday as Schumaker loaded the lineup with left-handed hitters against Mariners right-hander Bryan Wood. Smith could be right back with Round Rock as soon as Seager is activated.
Left-hander Jordan Montgomery, whose rehab start Friday was postponed by rain until Saturday, and right-hander Chris Martin, could be back within the next week.
The roster will have to be juggled for each returning player. Who knows? Maybe another player will end up on the IL.
It’s always something with the Rangers.
Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com
