The Texas Rangers have placed David Murphy on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained knee ligament. Murphy has played in 108 games this season for the Rangers and he is 114 for 415 (.275 avg, .786 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 15 homers, 74 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. It’s too bad that Nelson Cruz is on the D.L. in AAA or the Rangers would surely have called him up and gave him some at bats. Cruz has played in 99 games in AAA ball this season and he is 126 for 366 (.344 avg, 1.144 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 37 homers, 98 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. Murphy’s atbats will likely go to Marlon Byrd and Brandon Boggs until Murphy is ready to return to action. Byrd has played in 76 games for the Rangers this season and he is 61 for 235 (.260 avg, .775 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 7 homers, 27 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Rookie Brandon Boggs has played in 66 games for the Rangers this season and he is 50 for 205 (.244 avg, .745 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 5 homers, 30 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Rangers will miss Murphy who has played great since the day he arrived in Texas last season in the Eric Gagne trade.

The Rangers have placed closer C.J. Wilson on the 15-day disabled list with bone spurs in his left elbow. Wilson has pitched in 50 games for the Rangers this season and he is 2-2 with 24 saves, a 6.02 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. The Rangers were about to replace him as closer anyway but this made the move an easy one. The Rangers have declared veteran lefty Eddie Guardado as the team’s new closer. “Everyday Eddie” has pitched in 50 games for the Rangers this season and he is 3-2 with 3 saves, a 3.02 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. The Rangers have activated righty Joaquin Benoit from the disabled list to replace Wilson in the bullpen. Benoit has pitched in 34 games for the Rangers this season and he is 3-2 with 1 save, a 5.60 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Benoit must tighten his control if the Rangers are to trust him late in games.

25-year old righty starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy is almost ready to rejoin the Rangers’ starting rotation and they really need the help. McCarthy has started 5 games in R+AAA ball on his rehab assignment and he is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. McCarthy has pitched in 88 games (34 starts) in his major league career and he is 12-19 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He can’t get back to Texas soon enough with the pitching staff they currently have.

The Rangers have recalled 3B Travis Metcalf from AAA to platoon with Ramon Vazquez at third base until Hank Blalock comes back. Metcalf has played in 62 games in AAA ball this season and he is 56 for 227 (.247 avg, .648 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 3 homers and 29 RBIs. He also has played in 3 games with the Rangers earlier this season in which he was 0 for 9.

The Rangers have placed righty starting pitcher Eric Hurley on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. He has started 5 games for the Rangers this season and he was 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The Rangers have called up Tommy Hunter to replace Hurley in the rotation. Hunter was the #15 prospect in the Rangers minor league system coming into this season according to Baseball America. The 22-year old Hunter is a big dude at 6′3″, 255 pounds and he throws pretty hard. Hunter has started 22 games this season in A+AA+AAA ball this season and he is 11-8 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.