Good news is coming for Texas Rangers fans. Southpaw MacKenzie Gore is “trending” toward returning to the mound this Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. Shawn McFarland reported the update on Wednesday.

Gore left Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies after completing just one inning in what ended up being a 7-6 loss. Gore explained what happened afterward.

“I felt kind of like a cramp in that behind-the-shoulder-blade, mid-back area,” Gore told reporters. “I thought it was something I could probably pitch through. … It was uncomfortable, but it wasn’t a pain, like I hurt myself or anything like that. It’s frustrating for that to happen right from the get-go in the first inning. But we probably made the right move.”

The Rangers definitely made the right call. It’s too early in the season to leave a valuable starting pitcher out there if he is dealing with even the slightest injury. Gore is a strikeout machine and relies on his mechanics to get the job done. If something isn’t right, then being cautious is the right answer.

Gore is 3-4 on the season with a 4.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .222 OBA, and .702 OOPS. He’s K’d up 55 hitters in 49.0 innings, which is good for T-29 in the league. The 27-year-old is in his first year with the Rangers and needs some time to settle down. Fans know that Gore can turn things around and replicate the dominant performances that he has showcased in the past. In the start before the injury, Gore threw 8.0 innings, allowing just one run to the Arizona Diamondbacks.