In Other Rangers News: Francisco To Close Again

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Rangers manager Ron Washington said Friday afternoon that bidding farewell to RHP Vicente Padilla wasn’t the only pitching-staff news of the day.

Also: RHP Frank Francisco will return to closing duties immediately; LHP C.J. Wilson will go back to working the eighth inning and, when needed, at least part of the seventh.

“This gives us more versatility,” Washington said. “C.J. has done an outstanding job, but he’s more versatile. He can pitch two innings if we need him to. It just makes us more veratile all the way around.”

Francisco returned from the disabled list on Sunday and allowed one baserunner in 2.2 innings over three appearances. He still leads the team in saves with 15, one more than Wilson, but hasn’t had a save opportunity since July 10.  During the three stints that Francisco was out of the closer’s role due to the DL and some recovery time, Wilson was 2-1 with 13 saves in 15 chances and a 1.96 ERA.

Injury updates: It appears Sunday is the next possible day C Jarrod Saltalamacchia will catch. Manager Ron Washington said he does not expect Saltalamacchia to bounce back enough from his bout of arm fatigue in time to start Saturday. Saltalamacchia said he is feeling significantly better. … OF Nelson Cruz (sprained ankle) might be able to pinch hit by the end of the weekend, but it doesn’t appear he will be able to return to the starting lineup until the series at Cleveland that begins on Tuesday.  And that is not certain either.