Garcia (1-7) took the loss Wednesday against the Yankees, giving up one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Making his first appearance since a bout of back spams last weekend, Garcia was brought into a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning and served up what proved to be a game-winning solo shot to Paul Goldschmidt. Garcia has been taken deep in three straight games, and since the beginning of July he's stumbled to a 4.82 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB in 9.1 innings, ratios that would be even worse if it weren't for four unearned runs on his ledger. Phil Maton got the save for the Rangers on Tuesday, and Garcia's hold on the closer role could be hanging by a thread.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Robert Garcia: Should be ready to pitch Monday
Rotowire
Garcia (back) is expected to be available out of the bullpen for Monday's game against the Yankees, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Garcia suffered a mid-back spasm during his most recent appearance in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Mariners, resulting in him making an early exit. The 29-year-old underwent an MRI, which showed no structural damage. The reliever appears to have avoided any significant injury as a result and looks like he'll be ready to go for the series opener versus New York after getting Sunday off to recover.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Robert Garcia: Tending to back issue
Rotowire
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy clarified after Saturday's 6-4 win over the Mariners in 11 innings that Garcia exited the contest due to a mid-back spasm, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
After Garcia was pulled in the 10th inning in the middle of a Eugenio Suarez at-bat, the initial word was that he was dealing with a left scapula spasm. However, further assessment determined that Garcia is instead managing a spasm in his mid-back. Bochy said that he expects Garcia to be fine, but the Rangers' closer may be due for a day off or two after pitching three times in the past four days.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Robert Garcia: Exits with shoulder issue Saturday
Rotowire
Garcia was pulled from Saturday's contest against Seattle due to left scapula spasms, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Garcia entered in the 10th inning with a chance for a save, as Texas led 4-2. He quickly blew the opportunity, serving up a two-run homer to Randy Arozarena on his third pitch. Garcia then retired the next two batters before allowing a Josh Naylor single. He began the next at-bat with two straight balls to Eugenio Suarez and was subsequently visited by a trainer, which led to Garcia's exit from the game after 17 total pitches (only eight of which were strikes). Garcia's initial diagnosis doesn't sound grave, but it wouldn't be surprising if he were to be held out of action for at least a short period, especially since he was pitching Saturday for the third time in four days. Should Garcia need to sit out, Shawn Armstrong or the just-acquired Phil Maton could be the lead candidates for save chances.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Robert Garcia: Takes fourth blown save
Rotowire
Garcia (1-6) allowed two runs on two hits while failing to record an out, taking the loss and a blown save versus the Mariners on Friday.
Garcia gave up a walk-off two-run home run to J.P. Crawford. This was Garcia's first blown save since June 14 versus the White Sox, though he also took a pair of losses while pitching to a 1.13 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over eight innings in July. The Rangers added Phil Maton from the Cardinals and Danny Coulombe from the Twins at the trade deadline, both of whom earned holds prior to Garcia's blown save. That suggests Garcia will maintain closing duties for now, though any extended struggles will likely cost him the role. He's managed a 3.05 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 46:16 K:BB with nine saves, 11 holds and four blown saves over 41.1 innings this season.
Garcia earned a save against the Angels on Wednesday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.
It was a relatively stress-free save opportunity for Garcia, who entered for the ninth with the Rangers up by three runs. He needed just 10 pitches (nine strikes) to retire the side in order, beginning and ending his outing with punchouts. Garcia has strengthened his hold on Texas' closer role since the All-Star break, recording all three of the team's saves in the second half. He's not the flashiest closer in the game, but he's largely gotten the job done this season, registering nine saves in 12 chances with 11 holds, a 2.61 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 46:16 K:BB over 41.1 innings.
Garcia earned a save against the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over a scoreless inning of work.
Texas held a one-run lead heading into the ninth frame and turned to Garcia to close things out. He allowed a leadoff single but then retired the next three batters in order (including the final two by strikeout) to notch the save. Garcia has two saves among his three outings so far in the second half and appears to be strengthening his hold on the Rangers' closer role. Over his past 16 outings dating back to June 8, the left-hander has posted a 1.80 ERA with a 20:7 K:BB across 15 frames while converting five of six save opportunities.
Garcia picked up the save in Friday's 2-0 win over Detroit, allowing one hit and no walks during a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out two.
While Garcia did allow the possible tying run to get to the plate, he was able to hang on for his seventh save of the season. The Rangers' high-leverage mix has been in a state of flux for most of the year, although it appears that Garcia remains the club's favorite for saves for the time being. Over his last 13 innings, the left-hander holds a 2.08 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Robert Garcia: Fails to close things out
Rotowire
Garcia was pulled in favor of Shawn Armstrong in the ninth inning of Saturday's 7-4 win over San Diego with two outs and the bases loaded.
Garcia began the ninth inning with the most favorable save situation of a three-run lead and empty bases, but the Padres chipped away and had the winning run at the plate with two outs. Manager Bruce Bochy had seen enough and chose to go with a righty-righty matchup for what turned out to be the final batter when Armstrong got Xander Bogaerts to ground out to end the game. Garcia does have six saves this season and is still the team's top option at closer, but he doesn't have much of a previous pedigree as a closer and is more prone to decisions like this when he can't take care of things cleanly.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Robert Garcia: Picks up sixth save
Rotowire
Garcia struck out one in a perfect 10th inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Orioles.
Luke Jackson worked 1.1 scoreless innings in front of him to collect the win, and Garcia was dominant to secure the save -- after the phantom runner advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, the southpaw struck out Dylan Carlson and got Jackson Holliday to fly out weakly to right field to end things, tossing seven of his nine pitches for strikes overall. Jackson appears to have worked his way back into the highest-leverage mix, collecting a win, a save and two holds over his last five appearances, but Garcia is still manager Bruce Bochy's preferred closing option for the moment despite blowing two of his last seven save chances. During that 10-appearance span, Garcia's posted a shaky 4.82 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB in 9.1 innings.
Rangers' Robert Garcia: Works around trouble for fifth save
Rotowire
Garcia picked up the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the White Sox, giving up one hit and two walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
It was the fifth save of the season for Garcia, who did make things interesting by loading the bases before recording the final out of the game. The 29-year-old left-hander has begun to see an increase in save opportunities in the Texas bullpen, although the results have been shaky so far. Garcia has gone 4-for-6 in save chances over his last 6.2 innings, during which he owns an 8.10 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB.
0:53
1:41
1:57
2:24
9:59
1:03
0:35
1:43
11:03
8:08
1:52
2:08
8:44
9:14
0:21
9:28
8:39
9:36
8:40
9:16
