Tyler Mahle made his second rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, September 2, as he works his way back from a lengthy injury absence. While the outing wasn’t dominant, it marked progress in his recovery. Mahle threw 36 pitches, 23 of them for strikes, over a short stint. He gave up five runs on five hits and a walk, including a three-run home run, and was pulled after recording just two outs in the second inning. Though not a clean outing, the Rangers are more focused on how his arm responded than the box score.
Following the outing, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy shared that Mahle reported feeling fine physically. That’s a key checkpoint, as the team is being cautious with his recovery. Despite the rough results, no setbacks were reported, which keeps the door open for Mahle’s return in the near future. Bochy and the Rangers staff are evaluating next steps, which could include another rehab outing or a return to the big league roster depending on how Mahle bounces back physically.
Mahle has been out since mid-June due to right shoulder fatigue, which was later diagnosed as a rotator cuff strain. He was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 15 and transferred to the 60-day IL on July 1. At the time, the Rangers were hopeful he’d return sometime after the July 31 trade deadline. Before the injury, Mahle was a key piece in the Rangers’ rotation, putting up a stellar 2.34 ERA across 14 starts and 77 innings.
His current rehab assignment is being closely monitored, as the Rangers are weighing both his short-term readiness and long-term durability. One red flag from the latest outing was a slight dip in velocity—down about 1 mph from his season average. While not alarming on its own, it reinforces the team’s cautious approach. They’re not looking to rush him back, especially with the postseason picture still in play.
Even with the mixed results, Mahle’s ability to take the mound without experiencing pain afterward is a strong indicator that he’s on track to return soon. Depending on how he recovers over the next few days, Mahle could be reactivated later this week. The Rangers have the option of easing him back in with a bullpen role or a limited start, especially if he’s not yet stretched out to a full workload.
With expanded rosters in September, the timing works in Mahle’s favor. The team can carry more arms and give him a softer re-entry into major league action. If the Rangers opt to give him another rehab start, it would likely come this weekend or early next week, but nothing has been confirmed publicly. Either way, Mahle’s return is getting closer, and the Rangers are keeping their rotation options flexible as they gear up for a potential playoff run.
Ultimately, while Mahle’s return this week isn’t guaranteed, it remains possible. The next few days will be critical in determining whether he rejoins the Rangers or makes one more minor league appearance. His health remains the top priority, and the team isn’t expected to make a decision until they’ve completed further evaluations and monitored his recovery.
