Just hours after the New York Mets announced Noah Syndergaard would miss three-plus months with his partial lat tear and minutes after the Cleveland Indians placed ace Corey Kluber on the disabled list, the Texas Rangers announced the latest blow to the starting pitcher core. Cole Hamels, who was scratched from Tuesday's start with an oblique issue, was diagnosed with a strained right oblique and will miss the next eight-plus weeks.

Hamels, who has thrown 190-plus each of the last nine seasons, was off to a great start this year. In five starts, the 33-year-old allowed just 11 runs in 32 1/3 innings pitched and had a solid 1.13 WHIP. Now with his absence for the next two-plus months, a Rangers rotation that was supposed to be driven by Yu Darvish and Hamels as the workhorses, takes a brutal blow.

Texas hoped it could have Tyson Ross, who is recovering from thoracic outlet surgery, back soon. But with Ross now sidelined along with Chi Chi Gonzalez, the Rangers must push even further into the depths to replace Hamels. The likeliest option is Nick Martinez, who filled in when A.J. Griffin missed time with gout. Now with Griffin nearing a return, Martinez could take Hamels' spot in the rotation.

Given the park factors and various health and questions about their stuff, neither Martinez or Griffin are on the fantasy radar.