Rocker will be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to start Sunday against the White Sox, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Tyler Mahle was the scheduled starter but is expected to be placed on the injured list due to shoulder soreness. That leaves the Rangers in need of a fifth starter, and Rocker will be tabbed for the role -- at least in the short term. Rocker was recently activated from the injured list but struggled in a start June 4 by allowing five earned runs across 3.1 innings before being sent to the minors.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Could be summoned to start Sunday
Rotowire
Rocker is with the Rangers in Texas and could be asked to start Sunday versus the White Sox if Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is unable to pitch, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Though Rocker is with the team, no roster move has been made, so for now he is a contingency plan. Mahle felt some shoulder soreness during his most recent start Tuesday, but it's not yet clear if the issue is serious enough to prevent him from making his scheduled start Sunday. If Rocker is ultimately recalled to start, it would be his first appearance with the big club since he gave up five runs over 3.1 innings in a loss against Tampa Bay on June 4.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Optioned to Round Rock
Rotowire
The Rangers optioned Rocker to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Rocker was shelled for five runs in just 3.1 innings during his start Wednesday against the Rays. Poor outings have become a common theme for the 25-year-old righty this season, who now owns an 8.87 ERA and 1.84 WHIP through six MLB starts. He'll attempt to find his footing in the minor leagues; meanwhile, Chris Martin (shoulder) will return from the injured list to fill the opening in Texas' pitching staff.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Hit hard in return Wednesday
Rotowire
Rocker (1-4) was saddled with the loss Wednesday against the Rays after giving up five runs on six hits and two walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out five.
The hard-throwing right-hander's velocity was encouraging in his first MLB start since April 23, as Rocker induced 16 whiffs and was able to touch 99 mph twice with his sinker, but his return from a right shoulder impingement was still a rocky one overall. Three of his six hits allowed went for extra bases, and Rocker notably failed to cover first base on a groundball that allowed two runs to score with two outs in the third inning. He'll bring a ghastly 8.87 ERA and 1.84 WHIP with 21 strikeouts across 23.1 innings into his next scheduled outing against the Twins, currently projected for early next week.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Rangers activated Rocker (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Rocker is slated to rejoin the rotation Wednesday with a start against the Rays after being sidelined since late April with a right shoulder impingement. He threw only 53 pitches and four innings in his final rehab outing, so Rocker is likely to have a limited workload versus Tampa Bay.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Set to rejoin rotation
Rotowire
Rocker (shoulder) is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Rays, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The right-hander seemed likely require at least one additional rehab outing after throwing 53 pitches over four scoreless innings Thursday for Triple-A Round Rock, but he'll instead rejoin the Rangers with Nathan Eovaldi (triceps) placed on the injured list Sunday. Rocker figures to have some workload limitations in his first start back in the majors, but he pitched well in his two rehab outings with an 8:1 K:BB across seven shutout innings.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Impressive in rehab start
Rotowire
Rocker (shoulder) allowed one walk and struck out five over four hitless and scoreless innings for Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Rocker was untouchable, retiring the first 12 batters faced before issuing a walk to lead off the fifth inning. That ended his night. It was Rocker's second rehab appearance, which followed three scoreless innings for Double-A Midland a week prior. After the Midland game, Texas manager Bruce Bochy estimated the right-hander would need a few more starts, and that may still be the case. Rocker threw 53 pitches in the Round Rock start.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Shifting rehab to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rocker (shoulder) will transfer his rehab program to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Rocker made his first rehab outing with Double-A Frisco this past Friday, during which he allowed two hits and no walks while striking out three across three scoreless frames. The aim for Rocker on Thursday is to reach four innings and toss 60 pitches in Triple-A, and he'll likely need at least a few more appearances before being activated from the 15-day injured list.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Encouraging rehab start
Rotowire
Rocker (shoulder) allowed two hits and no walks and struck out three over three scoreless innings Friday in a rehab start with Double-A Frisco.
Rocker cruised Friday, making use of his full arsenal across his 34 pitches while sporting a fastball that sat around 96 to 98 miles per hour. Per MLB.com, manager Bruce Bochy said that the young right-hander will need at least a few more appearances in the minors before making his return from the 15-day injured list. Prior to being deactivated, Rocker turned in a 8.10 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over 20 innings, and he may not be a lock to reclaim a rotation spot once he returns from the IL with veteran lefty Patrick Corbin (3.59 ERA, 1.31 WHIP over eight starts) having thus far delivered decent results for the Rangers.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Starting rehab assignment
Rotowire
Rocker (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Rocker has been sidelined since late April with a right shoulder impingement but has been cleared for rehab games after getting through a live batting practice session earlier this week. He will need multiple rehab starts, assuming the Rangers intend to bring him back as a starting pitcher, but Grant raises the possibility that the club could accelerate Rocker's return by having him pitch in relief.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Rehab assignment imminent
Rotowire
Rocker (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment later this week as long as he bounces back well from a two-inning live batting practice session he threw Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Rocker's stuff looked "good" Sunday, adding that the right-hander's rehab assignment will be a lengthy one as he gets stretched back out following a three-week shutdown period. Rocker has been out for almost four weeks with a right shoulder impingement. He logged an 8.10 ERA in his first five starts this season before the injury and wouldn't seem to be guaranteed a spot in the Texas rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Slated for mound work next week
Rotowire
Rocker (shoulder) said Thursday that he will likely throw a bullpen session next week, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Rocker -- who was placed on the 15-day injured list last week with a right shoulder impingement -- has been throwing on flat ground and should take the next step of his progression soon. The rookie right-hander is eligible for activation late next week, but it does not sound like he will be ready to return at that time.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Rocker was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement Thursday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Rocker was crushed in a short outing Wednesday for five earned runs across only 1.2 innings. It's unclear if he was dealing with the issue at that point, but he'll now be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks and potentially longer.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Ambushed in short outing
Rotowire
Rocker (1-3) took the loss against the Athletics on Wednesday after allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk in 1.2 innings. He struck out two.
Fresh off establishing a career-high mark in strikeouts during his last start, Rocker was ambushed Wednesday in the shortest appearance of his career in terms of innings pitched. Although he threw 42 of his 63 pitches for strikes and managed to induce six whiffs in an abbreviated outing, the hard-throwing right-hander struggled mightily with his command while giving up three extra-base hits. Rocker will get another chance to face these same Athletics in his next scheduled start, this time in a more favorable setting at home and away from hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. Overall though, he's shaping up as a risky fantasy option while holding an 8.10 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 20 innings (five starts) so far.
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Career-high eight strikeouts in win
Rotowire
Rocker (1-2) earned the win after allowing three runs on five hits and no walks in seven innings Thursday against the Angels. He struck out eight.
The seven frames and eight punchouts both set career highs for the hard-throwing right-hander, who was outstanding Thursday. Jorge Soler plated a run in the opening frame, and Luis Rengifo drove in a pair in the fifth inning, but Rocker threw five spotless innings otherwise. Rocker will look to further improve on his 6.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB through four starts (18.1 innings) in his next outing, which is likely to come against a hard-hitting Athletics lineup in Sacramento next week.
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Goes just 3.1 frames in loss
Rotowire
Rocker (0-2) took the loss against Seattle on Saturday, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 3.1 innings.
Rocker began his outing with two scoreless frames, but he was torched for four runs in the third. The right-hander returned for the fourth inning but was pulled after giving up a one-out single. Rocker has struggled in two of his three outings so far this season, resulting in a poor 7.94 ERA and 1.94 WHIP overall. He hasn't been able to miss many bats, tallying just six strikeouts while issuing four walks through 11.1 frames.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-5, 245 lbs
Birthplace: Watkinsville, GA
Age: 25
Experience: R
Bats/Throws: R, R
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