The Texas Rangers and injuries have gone hand-in-hand this season. The latest is ace right-hander Yu Darvish.
The Rangers announced Tuesday afternoon that Darvish would not make his schedued start in a night game against the Minnesota Twins because of neck stiffness. He was sidelined from March 17 to April 6 with a similar problem.
The team said Darvish would undergo a precautionary MRI. No replacement starter was immediately named.
The 27-year-old Darvish has a 4-2 record with a 2.35 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings this season.
Meanwhile, the Rangers announced that first baseman Prince Fielder underwent successful surgery for a cervical fusion in his neck.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Drew Dossett at the Carrell Clinic in Dallas. Fielder is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Fielder, who joined the Rangers this season after he was acquired from the Detroit Tigers, was batting .247 with three home runs in 42 games before the injury. He has a career .285 batting average with 288 home runs.
Among the Rangers’ starting pitchers to miss time with injuries this season are Matt Harrison, Martin Perez and Colby Lewis.