SEATTLE — The Rangers are going to face a heavy load of their kryptonite — left-handed starters — in the next week and may have to face it without their own Superman against lefties. Though, if we’re going with superheroes, Josh Jung would probably prefer a Captain America reference.
Jung missed his fourth straight game with a troublesome left calf on Sunday and, for the first time, manager Bruce Bochy mentioned the possibility of another injured list stint for Jung. The Rangers were hoping he’d respond quicker to the calf issue than he has.
And facing four lefty starters in their next six games, they need every available right-handed hitter they can lay their hands on.
The Rangers are 9-18 against lefties this season, the second-worst winning percentage in the league. They have the worst OPS in the majors against lefty starters at .632 and have struck out nearly four times as often as they have walked. Jung is one of the few Rangers with legitimate success against lefties. Only Sam Haggerty (.996), Corey Seager (.847 OPS) and Kyle Higashioka (.782) have better numbers against lefty starters than Jung (.775).
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In the four games started by lefties that Jung missed, the Rangers are 0-4 with a nonexistent offense, hitting .168 and averaging 2.5 runs per game.
The Rangers will face lefties Max Fried (Monday) and Carlos Rodón (Wednesday) in the series with the New York Yankees that starts the week. Philadelphia will use lefties Cristopher Sánchez (Saturday) and Jesús Luzardo (Sunday) over the weekend.
If Jung goes on the IL, it’s possible the Rangers will try to get Jake Burger back on the active roster. Burger began a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Saturday.
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