The Rangers placed outfielder Julio Borbon on the disabled list Saturday, marking the third starting outfielder for Texas to go on the DL.Endy Chavez (pictured) was yanked from Friday's Triple-A game upon Borbon's strained left hamstring in Friday's game and is in the lineup at leadoff, playing center field. The Rangers plan to deploy him against right-handers and Craig Gentry against lefties, as the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram writes via Twitter.
Texas's outfield is in tatters, as none of the projected starting outfielders are in the lineup. Josh Hamilton is still a ways away in his recovery from a broken arm and took swings during batting practice Friday. He could be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment shortly and be back by the end of the month. Meanwhile, projected starting right fielder Nelson Cruz will be running this weekend to test his strained right quad as he guns for a return from the 15-day disabled list.
"We are going to run Cruz heavy this weekend and if everything goes well, we will see where to go," manager Ron Washington told the Star-Telegram. "We've got to get him on the bases, start, stop, go, all that stuff. Once he passes that test we will see where to go."
Cruz will be eliglble to return next Thursday and is hoping to embark on a rehab stint Monday. With Borbon's injury, the Rangers must be really hoping Cruz comes through with flying colors, although they won't press the issue.
Endy Chavez, for his part, has not played since 2009 with the Mariners. He is not known for his bat but possesses good speed and strong defense, with his claim to fame being a robbing of Scott Rolen's home run in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS, doubling Jim Edmonds off first to boot. The Cardinals would go on to win the World Series after then-closer Adam Wainwright froze Carlos Beltran for the final strike and out of the game on a curveball.
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