Rangers activate Claudio, recall Bibens-Dirkx

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers reinforced their bullpen on Saturday by activating left-hander Alex Claudio off the disabled list and calling up right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx from Triple-A Round Rock. Right-hander Ricardo Rodríguez was sent down to Round Rock.
Activating Claudio gives the Rangers a seven-man bullpen again. Adding Bibens-Dirkx for Rodriguez gives the Rangers a fresh reliever after they used six in Friday night's 11-inning loss to the Indians.
"Based just on last night's game, we wanted to protect ourselves," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "We had the opportunity to add another guy in the bullpen with multi-inning capability."
Bibens-Dirkx has been used strictly as a starter for both the Rangers and Round Rock this season, but has worked both in the rotation and the bullpen in past years. His last outing for Round Rock was on Monday when he threw 108 pitches over 5 2/3 innings. His last outing for the Rangers was on July 8 when he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Tigers. He got the call Saturday morning from Round Rock manager Jason Wood.

"I saw the game last night went extra innings, so I put my phone on loud," Bibens-Dirkx said. "I know how things work. I'm glad I did. I'm glad I didn't sleep through it."
Claudio was on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle. Prior to that, he threw five scoreless innings over three games and had a 0.96 ERA in his last seven games.
Mazara has to wait
Outfielder Nomar Mazara was placed on the disabled list Friday with a sprained right thumb, and this may take more than just the minimum of 10 days. Mazara injured the thumb on his glove hand in the first inning of last Saturday's game against the Orioles in Baltimore. He slid trying to catch Tim Beckham's double and injured the thumb in doing so.
"As soon as it happened, I was like, 'Wow,'" Mazara said. "When I got a fly ball, I was like, 'oh, my god!' Playing, catching wasn't fun. I finished the game, but that wasn't a good idea."
Mazara is eligible to come off Friday when the Rangers open a three-game series in Houston.
"It's gotten better, but it still hurts," Mazara said. "The doctor said the pain is not going to go away right away. It just depends on how I feel when I swing."
Rangers beat
• Right-handed reliever Chris Martin, on the disabled list with a strained left groin, threw a 20-pitch light bullpen session on Friday. The Rangers will likely have him throw another bullpen session before considering a medical rehabilitation assignment.
• Third baseman Adrián Beltré had two hits on Friday to give him 3,116 hits and pass Alex Rodriguez for 19th all-time.
• Robinson Chirinos' home run on Friday was his 60th as a catcher with the Rangers. That ties him with Jim Sundberg for second-most by a catcher in club history. The leader is Ivan Rodriguez with 212.