Rangers’ callups to come in 2 waves; ‘pen first

ARLINGTON — The Rangers’ September callups will come in two waves, manager Jeff Banister said Tuesday.

Rosters can be expanded up to 40 players in September, and the first wave will come on Friday. That group will most likely be bullpen reinforcements. The second group will wait until after Triple-A Round Rock’s season ends next Tuesday.

“The bullpen would be a primary area to concentrate on,” Banister said.

Right-hander Tanner Scheppers is one possibility. He has been on the disabled list the entire season while recovering from left knee surgery but was scheduled to make his fifth appearance on medical rehabilitation assignment for Round Rock on Tuesday night.

Other immediate bullpen candidates include left-handers Andrew Faulkner and Michael Roth, and right-handers Jose Leclerc and Luke Jackson. All four are on the 40-man roster and pitched with the Rangers earlier this season.

Right-handers Nick Martinez and Chi Chi Gonzalez are long-relief candidates but will likely finish out the regular season with Round Rock. The Express is not advancing to the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

“Obviously we need some of the length guys to keep throwing,” Banister said. “And we need some of the position players to continue to get at-bats.”

The standard procedure …

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