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Rangers GM: Losing Lewis is a major 'kick to the gut'

Stephen Brashear / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The American League West-leading Texas Rangers announced Wednesday that right-hander Colby Lewis will be sidelined for up to two months with a strained lat muscle in the back of his right shoulder.

Texas plans on using internal options to replace the 36-year-old, who's pitched incredibly well for the Rangers this season.

"From a big-picture standpoint, we'll give an opportunity to the next guy," general manager Jon Daniels explained to reporters. "We have confidence somebody will step up and Colby will be back. On a personal level, it's a kick in the gut. Nobody is more respected and admired on our team than Colby. He was having a great season. ... All-Star caliber."

Lewis, who recently took a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics, first felt the injury Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds and was forced to leave the contest.

The Rangers initially thought Lewis had soreness in the triceps of his throwing arm, but an MRI revealed the lat injury.

While nothing has been determined just yet, the leading candidates to replace Lewis, who was 6-1 with a 3.21 ERA prior to his injury, are the recently signed veteran Kyle Lohse or Triple-A right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez.

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