Hamels Latest to Catch Injury Bug

Back in 2014, the Rangers' season seemed to be over before it ever really began. And once it began, things only got worse, as they led the world in games missed due to injury and finished strong in September to avoid a 100-loss season weeks after their all-time leader in managerial wins resigned unexpectedly.

It was a bad year.

That injury bug is starting to make its way back to Arlington, though at a much lesser extent. And the Rangers are hoping it stays that way. Over the weekend, it was announced ace Cole Hamels would miss his scheduled Monday start with a groin strain. On the plus side, it seems to be very minor and he isn't expected to miss more than the one turn through the rotation.

So instead of Hamels starting the Rangers' homestand against the Yankees on Monday, we'll get lefty Cesar Ramos, who will make his Rangers debut after being called up from Triple-A.

In the meantime, Hamels will take it easy and hope to return for his next scheduled start against either the Angels this weekend or on the road in an anticipated ALDS rematch with Toronto beginning Monday.

Hamels missed one start last year with a similar groin issue and doesn't seem too concerned.

"It comes up every once in a while," Hamels told The Dallas Morning News. "I think just getting into more stressful innings and stressful parts of the game where you are exerting a little too much and I have a long stride, so it happens. I just want to monitor because it is early and having had it before I have something of an understanding of how long it takes. I just don't want something to linger. I want to be confident that I can make plays around the diamond."

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