HOUSTON – And now the pitching depth will be tested.
In the same week the Rangers lost shortstop Corey Seager to a strained hamstring, they also suffered what appeared to be the first significant injury to their rebuilt starting rotation. Right-hander Jon Gray left his start of an eventual 8-2 loss at Houston in the third inning after being hit in the right elbow by a 109.3-mph liner off the bat of Astros catcher Yainer Diaz.
Gray, who had three stints on the IL last year due to various issues, had just taken the mound after the Rangers scored twice in the top of the inning. Diaz lined the first pitch, a 94.7-mph fastball, right back up the middle. Before Gray could react, the ball caught him on or just below the elbow.
