The Rangers announced that right-hander Josh Sborz has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to right elbow soreness. Taking Sborz’s place on the active roster is Matt Moore, as the veteran southpaw’s contract was selected from Triple-A.
Moore signed a minor league deal with Texas shortly after the lockout, looking to again try and get his big league career back on track. After injuries and poor performances during the 2017-19 seasons, Moore pitched well over 78 innings with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2020, but his return from Japan didn’t lead to better results in MLB. Moore posted a 6.29 ERA over 73 innings with the Phillies last season, allowing 15 home runs while starting 13 of 24 games.
This will be Moore’s second official stint on the Rangers’ active roster, as he pitched 102 innings of 6.79 ERA ball for Texas in 2018. The expectation is that Moore will be used out of the bullpen in a long relief role, or perhaps as a bulk pitcher behind an opener depending on how the Rangers navigate some injuries in their rotation. Both Jon Gray and Spencer Howard are on the injured list with blisters, and while at least Gray may be back after just the minimum 10 days, the Rangers might be in need of some short-term starting help until their rotation is back to fuller strength.
Sborz is off to a shaky start, with an 11.25 ERA after his first four innings of work in 2022. A balky elbow could be responsible for these struggles, and Sborz will now get a chance to heal up and essentially reset his season. Sborz’s first season with the Rangers was a success, as he posted a 3.97 ERA over 59 innings out of the 2021 Texas bullpen, albeit with a troublesome 12.5% walk rate.
This is why—despite their remarkable off season—the Rangers won’t be in contention for anything.
Why does everyone keep saying this, next year is the year when the team is expected to be competitive. This off-season was a building block.
Absolutely, but I was commenting on Matt Moore, thoroughly useless.
Good luck with Matt Moore.
Death, taxes, and Matt moores high era
Damn! Matt Moore? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time..
I believe Moore’s main claim to fame is that he was once rated a higher prospect than Mike Trout.
I absolutely love Matt Moore, but he didn’t have a lot last year. Hoping he can return to some of his former glory. Easy guy to root for.
And he didn’t have much the year before that and before that and before that and .. .
You mean the Texas dodgers?
Rangers pitching staff is a joke from top to bottom. Triple A quality at best. A bunch of wash ups. Moore, Gray, Perez…and a moron for a manager.
I agree with the final sentence for sure.
What!?!?! MATT MOORE? THIS dude is still in baseball!? WHAT? I have not heard that year in 5+ years, I thought this dude would’ve retired by now, wow… what a comeback it would be.