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Texas Rangers lefthanded pitcher is on the team’s taxi squad for this road trip and is the team’s likely starting pitcher on Friday, per Evan Grant, citing manager Chris Woodward.
With Kohei Arihara going on the injured list, the Rangers have an open spot in the rotation, and Benjamin has been considered, along with Kolby Allard and Hyeon-jong Yang, a likely candidate for the spot.
Benjamin made the Rangers’ opening day roster as one of the tandem starters, but after a solid first outing, he had a pair of difficult appearances where he uncharacteristically struggled with his command, and ended up being optioned to the Alternate Training Site.
Benjamin appeared to have worked out the kinks in his ATS appearances, and in Round Rock’s first game of the season, he threw 5 shutout innings, striking out 8 while walking 1 and allowing 4 hits.
If Benjamin has success Friday against the Astros, he would seem to have an opportunity to stick in the rotation, given the problems Arihara and Jordan Lyles have had.