Scheppers up, Hoying down, Napoli at DH, Gallo at 1B

The Texas Rangers have purchased the contract of reliever Tanner Scheppers from AAA Round Rock. To make room for Scheppers on the 25 man roster, the Rangers have optioned outfielder Jared Hoying. To make room for Scheppers on the 40 man roster, the Rangers have moved A.J. Griffin to the 60 day d.l.

The move from a four man bench to a three man bench is not terribly surprising, particularly with Andrew Cashner going on the d.l., meaning that two of the rotation spots are currently being filled Nick Martinez and tonight’s starter, Austin Bibens-Dirkx. Neither of that pair is a lock to work deep into games, meaning that the bullpen is going to have to go more innings.

And with Yu Darvish not going deep yesterday, and the Rangers using five different relievers, it makes sense they would want a fresh arm up today. Scheppers has pitched well of late for Round Rock, after having been outrighted earlier in the year, and this would seem to be the Rangers giving Scheppers one last chance to show them he can be a contributor in a major league pen.

Hoying going down means that the bench consists of Robinson Chirinos as backup catcher, Pete Kozma as backup infielder, and Delino DeShields as backup outfielder. I would expect this to remain the case at least through the All Star Break.

In the meantime, Scheppers is in the pen for tonight’s game, which features Mike Napoli at DH and Joey Gallo at 1B.

The lineup:

Choo — RF

Elvis — SS

Mazara — LF

Beltre -- 3B

Odor — 2B

Gomez -- CF

Napoli — DH

Lucroy -- C

Gallo — 1B

Bibens-Dirkx takes the mound against Marco Estrada.