Palumbo to the i.l., Montero activated

Texas Rangers transactions: Joe Palumbo has been placed on the injured list with a flare up of his ulcerative colitis, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster the team has activated Rafael Montero from the injured list.

This is effectively a swap in the bullpen, with Montero, who was behind schedule at summer camp due to being a late arrival, and who then was battling a sore arm, coming in and presumably being part of a late inning mix that has Jonathan Hernandez performing well and most of the rest of the relievers not impressing. Montero had spent his career with the New York Mets before signing with the Rangers last offseason as a minor league free agent who was recovering from 2018 Tommy John surgery. Montero excelled once he was called up to the majors, putting up a 2.48 ERA in 29 IP with 34 Ks against 5 walks, albeit with 5 home runs.

Palumbo had been working as one of the Rangers’ bullpen lefties, and the news he was going on the shelf due to an ulcerative colitis is head-turning because the beat guys say they didn’t know he had that before today. This leaves Brett Martin and Joely Rodriguez as the two lefties in the bullpen.