Rangers Scratch Jon Gray From Spring Training Start

Taylor Hearn will start in Jon Gray's place on Friday vs. San Francisco as the veteran starter is dealing with back stiffness.

Texas Rangers pitcher Jon Gray is an injury scratch for Friday’s game with the San Francisco Giants, the club announced about an hour before the game.

The Rangers made the announcement via its public relations twitter account.

Gray has back stiffness, making him the fourth starting pitcher in camp to deal with some level of minor injury since Spring Training began.

Taylor Hearn, who was set to be the first reliever after Gray, will start against the Giants.

Jacob deGrom, the offseason’s prized acquisition, hasn’t yet pitched in a spring game due to left side soreness. He has been on a throwing program for a week and has thrown two bullpen and a batting practice. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that deGrom could throw another bullpen “Friday or Saturday.”

deGrom was not scheduled to pitch Friday.

Nathan Eovaldi also has left side soreness and was skipped in the spring rotation earlier this week. The fourth veteran is Jake Odorizzi, who is dealing with arm fatigue and is also on a throwing program.

Gray’s first start resulted in a 13-4 Rangers win. He pitched two innings and gave up just one hit.

Gray went 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 24 starts last season, but he missed three stretches of the season, including a two-month stretch with an oblique injury.

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