Abdominal strain for Tanner Scheppers

Texas Rangers’ relief pitcher Tanner Scheppers left today’s game after one batter due to what is being described as a “lower half” injury, and will have an MRI tomorrow. Scheppers missed most of 2016 after undergoing knee surgery last spring, but had been healthy so far this spring.

Its just the latest setback for the 2009 supplemental first rounder, who has battled injuries since early 2014. Scheppers was expected to claim a spot on the Opening Day roster this year in the bullpen, but with Opening Day just a little over a week away, and with there being the necessity of an MRI, it appears more likely Scheppers will start the season on the 10 day disabled list.

The Rangers had been talking about going with a 13 man pitching staff at the start of the season, and if Scheppers is out, that could create an opening for Dillon Gee or Nick Martinez to open the year in the bullpen. In the meantime, we’ll cross our fingers as we wait to see how things shake out for Scheppers with his latest issue.

UPDATE -- Per T.R. Sullivan on Twitter, Scheppers left yesterday’s game with an abdominal strain. Core muscle group issues aren’t anything to sneeze at, but its better than, say, an arm or a knee injury. Regardless, I would still expect Scheppers to start the year on the d.l.