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ANALYSIS: Rafael Montero was activated off the injured list on Friday and promptly added his name to the seemingly never-ending list of pitchers who have recorded a save in 2020, striking out two in a clean ninth inning. The Texas Rangers are more likely to get the next no.1 draft pick than they are reaching the postseason this year but the fact Montero was given the chance to earn a save as soon as he was back from his elbow injury (tendonitis) shows the team has faith in him. And a look at last year's numbers will explain why.
Montero's first year with the Rangers saw him pitch 29 innings and put up a 2.48 ERA while striking out 34 hitters with a 30.1% K%. With Jose Leclerc likely to miss the remainder of this season, the closer role is up for grabs in Texas and Montero looks like he's at the very least put his name atop the list. Given he's only just back from an elbow injury and he missed all of 2018 through injury, it's unlikely Montero will be heavily used (at least not in back-to-back days to begin with) but any closer with a good ERA and high strikeout numbers should be rostered. Even if Montero only tallies one or two saves a week, he could be one of the most valuable waiver adds this season.
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