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Rangers place Jon Gray on IL, likely out through Division Series — if they make it

Gray would not be eligible to be activated until Oct. 13, which is Game 5 of the AL Division Series.

SEATTLE — The Rangers’ priority is to make the playoffs first. They’ll worry about what to do in the playoffs second.

If there was any question about that, the Rangers removed it Friday when they placed right-hander Jon Gray on the IL with a strained muscle in his wrist, an injury manager Bruce Bochy said would normally simply require missing one start. Instead, Gray will likely be out through the Division Series — if the Rangers make it that far.

“We are playing to win now,” general manager Chris Young said of the decision to make the move.

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The nuts and bolts of the move: Gray was placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Thursday, and left-hander Jake Latz, who had been optioned to the minors on Wednesday, was recalled. As a result, Gray would not be eligible to be activated until Oct. 13, which is Game 5 of the AL Division Series. And the only way he could be activated at that point would be as an injury replacement if another pitcher suffers an injury during the series.

Without Gray available for Saturday, which would have been his scheduled start day, the Rangers could not afford to simply play short-handed. In addition, they were short-handed in the bullpen on Friday with Aroldis Chapman likely unavailable after pitching consecutive days and José Leclerc’s status, after he pitched on consecutive days also, uncertain.

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The Rangers were uncertain on who would start both Saturday and Sunday. That would likely be determined on what’s at stake and who pitches Friday. Options include Martín Pérez, Andrew Heaney and Cody Bradford. If needed, the Rangers could use an opener.

To be fair, it was unclear if Gray would be part of a playoff rotation. The Rangers would likely only go with four starters in the playoffs. Jordan Montgomery, Nathan Eovaldi and Dane Dunning seem to have three of those spots locked up. Gray, second on the team in innings with 158, has struggled down the stretch.

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“It’s tough, but we’re in a good spot,” Gray said. “I’ve just got to stay positive. We will get where we need to be and I’ll be ready.”

He had a 3.29 ERA at the All-Star break, but he’s had just three quality starts in the second half and has a 5.32 ERA for 64 innings. In that time, he’s allowed 11 homers. That includes eight homers in 25.1 innings over his last six starts.

He did seem to make strides against on Monday against Los Angeles. He allowed only a solo homer in six innings. He went out to pitch the seventh, but left during warmups for the inning due to tightness in the wrist. He underwent an MRI on Tuesday. The Rangers did not release the results of those at the time, but all indications suggested everything was OK. Manager Bruce Bochy said he played catch Wednesday and was the scheduled starter for Saturday. He traveled early to Seattle with the Rangers first two starters of the series, Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi.

Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant

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