ANAHEIM — The Texas Rangers are heading into the All-Star break with the best pitching staff in the majors, boasting a league-leading 3.23 ERA. That staff may soon get even stronger with two key arms nearing returns.
Right-handers Jon Gray and Josh Sborz are both progressing in their recoveries and are expected to take major steps forward soon. Gray, sidelined since spring training after suffering a fractured wrist from a comebacker, threw a live bullpen session Sunday at Triple-A Round Rock. His next step will likely be a minor league rehab assignment.
Meanwhile, Sborz, who is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery, accompanied the team to Anaheim but has since headed to the Rangers’ facility in Surprise, Arizona. He’s scheduled to throw a modified live bullpen on Tuesday, similar to a simulated game, facing minor league hitters.
Gray, 33, is open to pitching out of the bullpen if needed — a role he’s handled before — but with Tyler Mahle (shoulder) out until at least mid-August and Cody Bradford (elbow) out for the year, Gray could be more valuable rejoining the rotation. Over his first three years with Texas, he posted a 4.16 ERA.
As for Sborz, the 31-year-old could be a much-needed power arm in the bullpen. If fully recovered, he could bring back the high-velocity fastball the relief corps currently lacks. His fastball averaged 96.5 mph between 2022 and 2024, a mark none of the current bullpen arms consistently reach. Only Marc Church, who was sent to the minors in April, has averaged more than 96 mph this season.
