Howard was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder impingement syndrome, Richard Justice of Texas Monthly reports.
Howard surrendered six runs (five earned) over 3.1 innings during his last start Sunday, and he'll now miss at least a couple turns through the rotation due to the injury. The 26-year-old will be eligible to be reinstated Aug. 23, though it's unclear if he's expected to be fully recovered by that point. John King was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Hit hard in loss
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Howard (2-4) took the loss Sunday against the White Sox, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking three in 3.1 innings.
Chicago scored a run in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth. Andrew Vaughn hit a two-run blast in the third and, after AJ Pollock and Luis Robert hit consecutive doubles with one out in the fourth, Howard was removed. Howard stepped into Texas' rotation at the beginning of July and has allowed four runs or more in four of his seven starts since then. As a starter, he has a 7.41 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 10 homers allowed in 34 innings. His next start will likely be next weekend against Seattle.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Mediocre showing Tuesday
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Howard (2-3) allowed six runs on six hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out three over four-plus innings to take the loss versus the Orioles on Tuesday.
Most of the damage against Howard came in the third inning, with Jorge Mateo's three-run home run enough to send the Rangers starter to a loss. He's now allowed 11 homers in nine appearances this season. The right-hander has a 6.82 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 29:14 K:BB through 34.1 innings. With Jon Gray (oblique) out until at least September, Howard is likely to maintain a spot in the rotation. His next start is projected to be a home matchup against the White Sox this weekend.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Walks five in no-decision
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Howard gave up two earned runs on five hits and five walks while striking out three in a 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.
Howard was somewhat effective in his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on July 5. The 25-year-old right-hander managed to eat five innings while giving up only two earned runs on a home run to Carlos Santana. The five free passes are concerning, but the positives to take away are two consecutive outings of five innings and a career-high-tying 91 pitches Sunday. Howard's 7.70 FIP suggests that his bloated 6.97 ERA may not be due for improvement unless he can make a significant adjustment, but the right-hander has been better during his current stint in the majors (4.50 ERA, 14 IP) than he was during a three-game April stretch (12.15 ERA, 6.2 IP, 8.1 HR/9), which resulted in a demotion to the minors. Another silver lining is that he is slated to start in a favorable matchup against the Athletics his next time out after the All-Star break.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Solid in Monday's win
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Howard (1-1) earned the win Monday over the Athletics. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out one over five innings.
Howard got through three innings without trouble, then allowed an RBI single to Seth Brown in the fourth and a solo home run to Sheldon Neuse in the fifth. The Athletics rallied late against the Rangers' bullpen, but Brett Martin closed it out to earn Howard his first win in five appearances this year. Howard allowed four runs in four innings in his previous start, so this was a marked improvement for the right-hander. He still has an 8.04 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB through 15.2 innings, but with Dane Dunning (ankle) landing on the injured list, Howard should get an extended look in the rotation. He's lined up for a weekend home start versus the Mariners.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Gets second start Monday
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Howard is scheduled to start Monday's home game against the Athletics, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Texas previously listed Howard as its starter for Tuesday, but rather than being moved back a day in the pitching schedule, he'll take the hill on five days' rest for the Rangers' first game of the week. He earned his second turn through the rotation after he covered four frames while allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks in an extra-inning loss to the Orioles on July 5. He likely won't have a long leash for a starting role, however, so Howard may need to turn in a pair of decent showings during the upcoming week to ensure he sticks in the rotation after the All-Star break. Following Monday's outing, Howard lines up to start the Rangers' penultimate game of the first half Saturday versus the Mariners.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Looks to solidify rotation spot
Rotowire
Texas manager Chris Woodward said Howard is expected to get another start after re-entering the Rangers' rotation Tuesday, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports. "His stuff is good enough to get anybody out. It (was) his first start back so I figured there might be some inconsistency to it, and hopefully the next time out, he's better," Woodward said.
Howard gave up four runs over four innings against the Orioles on Tuesday. Other than the second inning, when he allowed all the runs to score, Howard made a positive impression on Woodward. The right-hander has pitched well in the minors, posting a 3.69 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 10 starts, but the results against MLB hitters has been the opposite (10.97 ERA, six HR in 10.2 IP). Having removed Taylor Hearn from the rotation, the Rangers are looking at Howard and Glenn Otto to take hold at the back end of the rotation.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Lasts four frames in no-decision
Rotowire
Howard allowed four runs on six hits and two walks over four innings during Tuesday's extra-inning loss at Baltimore. He had two strikeouts and didn't factor in the decision.
Howard was promoted Tuesday for his first big-league appearance since late April, but he generated only five swinging strikes on 68 pitches. The 25-year-old has a 10.97 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB across 10.2 innings this season, and he's not guaranteed to receive another turn through the rotation. However, should Howard receive another start, he tentatively lines up to pitch early next week versus the A's.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Promoted for Tuesday's start
Rotowire
Howard was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock ahead of his start against the Orioles on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old opened the season in the majors but has been at Triple-A since late April, and he has a 3.69 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 60:19 K:BB over 46.1 frames in 10 starts for Round Rock. Howard is now taking the big-league rotation spot of Taylor Hearn, who was demoted to the minors last week.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Set to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Howard will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to start Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Howard hasn't appeared in a big-league game since late April, but he'll get another shot at the top level after posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 17.0 innings over his last three starts with Triple-A Round Rock. He'll be joining the rotation as a replacement for Taylor Hearn, who was sent to Round Rock last week.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Could join rotation
Rotowire
Texas manager Chris Woodward said Sunday that Howard could eventually slot into the major-league rotation, but not immediately, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
After the Rangers optioned Taylor Hearn to Triple-A Round Rock, where he'll transition from starter to a multi-inning bullpen role, Texas seeks a solution for the back end of the rotation. The club can get back with four starters until July 5. Howard has been the best of breed at Round Rock, hitting his stride over the last five starts with a 3.24 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 11 walks in 25 innings. He's yet to throw more than five innings, but Howard could be serviceable by early July.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Pitch count up, not innings
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Howard allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three over 1.2 innings in Friday's 6-3 loss to Atlanta.
Howard was expected to be the bulk-innings pitcher following opener Garrett Richards, but the right-hander ran into third-inning trouble. After fanning the side in the second on 23 pitches, Howard was the victim of a misplay by Adolis Garcia that resulted in an inside-the-park home run, and then he loaded the bases before being pulled. Howard got his pitch count up to a season-high 51, but the Rangers were hoping for more than five outs. He lines up to start or appear in the series opener in Yankee Stadium next Friday.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Two innings in return
Rotowire
Howard (0-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in two innings while striking out four as the Rangers fell 2-0 on Sunday in Oakland.
Howard returned from the 10-day injured list due to a finger injury and relieved opener Garrett Richards. The former retired the side in order in the third but ran into trouble in the fourth, allowing a single and, later, a two-run home run to Stephen Piscotty. The appearance actually lowered the 25-year-old's career ERA as a Ranger to 10.59. That high number is partially due to having allowed 10 home runs in 26.1 career innings for Texas. After allowing only 11 home runs in 235 minor-league innings, Howard has allowed 18 homers in 79 innings in the majors.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Back from IL
Rotowire
The Rangers activated Howard (finger) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.
Though Garrett Richards is slated to open Sunday's game against the Athletics, Howard is expected to serve as the primary pitcher behind him as the righty makes his return from a brief stay on the IL with a blister and cracked nail on his throwing hand. The Rangers will likely wait and see how the Richards/Howard pairing fares Sunday before deciding whether Howard will serve a traditional starting role in his subsequent turns in the rotation or continue to work as a primary pitcher.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Likely to fill bulk role
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Howard (finger) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list and serve as a bulk reliever behind opener Garrett Richards in Sunday's game against the Athletics, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Howard was tagged for six runs over three innings in his lone outing April 10 in Toronto before developing a cracked nail and blister on a finger on his throwing hand that resulted in a brief stint on the IL. The Rangers haven't said that Howard will permanently work behind an opener in his subsequent turns through the rotation, so having the right-hander follow Richards for Sunday's game may just allow the team to better manage the 25-year-old's workload in his return.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Start pushed back
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Howard (finger) will now start Sunday's game against the Athletics, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Howard was expected to return from the 10-day injured list for Friday's series opener in Oakland, but he'll be pushed back two days since Jon Gray (knee) is expected to require a trip to the IL. Glenn Otto will now start Friday, while Howard will get a few extra days of rest. Howard allowed six runs on six hits and no walks while striking out five in three innings during his season debut against the Blue Jays.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Coming back Friday
Rotowire
Howard (finger) will be activated off the injured list and start Friday's game in Oakland, Doug Miller of MLB.com reports.
Texas manager Chris Woodward confirmed the news that Howard would start barring any unforeseen circumstances. The right-hander has been on the 10-day IL with a blister after coughing up six runs and four home runs in three innings during his season debut against Toronto.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Serves up four homers
Rotowire
Howard allowed six runs on six hits -- including four home runs -- over three innings in a no-decision against the Blue Jays on Sunday. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.
To his credit, the 25-year-old Howard was willing to attack the strike zone against one of the best lineups in baseball. He lived in the zone a little too much and George Springer, Matt Chapman, Danny Jansen and Vladimir Guerrero all made him pay with long balls. The matchups will get easier and Howard has some prospect pedigree, but it will be difficult to trust him in fantasy until he proves more at the big-league level. Up next is a home start against the Angels.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Named fifth starter
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Texas manager Chris Woodward said Saturday that Howard will be the team's fifth starter, Levi Weaver and Lindsey Adler of The Athletic report.
Howard had better spring performances than fellow young hurlers A.J. Alexy and Glenn Otto, and the Rangers apparently settled on Kolby Allard as a reliever. The 25-year-old Howard had a combined 7.43 ERA in 2021 for Philadelphia and Texas (9.70 in eight starts with the Rangers), so there's risk involved.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Projected No. 5 starter
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Howard is expected to be the Rangers' No. 5 starter, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.
Landry's projected roster has Howard winning the No. 5 job over A.J. Alexy, Kolby Allard and Glenn Otto. Howard has given up one run on five hits while striking out three over five Cactus League innings (two starts). He's expected to make one more start during spring training. Earlier this spring, manager Chris Woodward told Landry that Howard, Alexy and Otto may benefit from more time at Triple-A but more should be gleaned in the coming days, after which the shape of the rotation should take form.
