Kennedy was added to the Rangers' major-league roster Sunday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old is in camp as a non-roster invitee but will be in the mix for saves to open the season since Jose Leclerc and Jonathan Hernandez are dealing with elbow injuries. Kennedy and Matt Bush are poised to operate as the primary high-leverage options for Texas in the meantime.

Kennedy pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Friday's spring game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

In a sign that Kennedy, a non-roster invitee, will make the Opening Day roster, he was used on back-to-back days for the first time this spring. Not only does it look like he'll make the roster, but Kennedy could be the Rangers' closer. The 36-year-old right-hander has not allowed a run or hit while striking out seven and walking two over 5.2 spring innings.

Kennedy allowed one walk and struck out three over a scoreless inning in Thursday's spring game against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Kennedy, who pitched the final inning, has not allowed a run while striking out seven over five scoreless spring innings. Although Thursday's appearance was not a save situation, it may be viewed as preparing Kennedy for what could be a ninth-inning role during the regular season. The Rangers lost their presumptive closer Jose Leclerc (elbow) for what will be a extended period of time and will be without top setup man Jonathan Hernandez (elbow) to start the season. Kennedy and Matt Bush have been mentioned as the top candidates to close for Texas. Bush also pitched Thursday and gave up three runs and three walks in a third of an inning.

Kennedy and Matt Bush appear to be the leading candidates to close games for the Rangers to begin the season after general manager Chris Young said Monday that Jose Leclerc would miss an "extended period of time" due to elbow discomfort, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Leclerc and Jonathan Hernandez came into spring training at the top of the pecking order among Rangers' relievers, but both look set to miss at least the first month of the season -- if not longer -- due to elbow injuries. Even if Leclerc had avoided a trip to the injured list to start the season, his hold on the closing job was tenuous at best, given the velocity drop and poor results he's noticed this spring. Kennedy and Bush both boast previous closing experience in the majors, though the former has seen more recent ninth-inning use. After saving 30 games in 34 opportunities with the Royals in 2019, Kennedy lost hold of the job while taking a big step back statistically in the abbreviated 2020 campaign, but he's appeared to get back on track with his new organization this spring. He's been perfect so far during his Cactus League appearances, striking out four over three spotless frames.

Kennedy struck out one over one perfect inning in Saturday's spring game against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Kennedy, who was mentioned by manager Chris Woodward when he discussed closer options, has pitched three perfect Cactus League innings with four strikeouts. Woodward said the presumed closer, Jose Leclerc, needs to show him more before the manager anoints him as the team's closer. As such, pitchers like Kennedy and Matt Bush have entered the conversation.

Texas manager Chris Woodward mentioned Kennedy as a potential closer Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Woodward said he was looking to see more from Jose Leclerc, who has served as Texas' closer each of the last two seasons but is experiencing a drop in fastball velocity this spring. In addition to Kennedy, who had 30 saves for the Royals in 2019, the manager raised the potential of Matt Bush working as a closer. Woodward also mentioned going to a matchup-based solution for end-of-game scenarios.

Kennedy joined the Rangers as a non-roster invitee Monday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kennedy suddenly transitioned from a back-end starter to a reliable closer in 2019, saving 30 games while posting a 3.41 ERA and striking out a career-high 27.4 percent of opposing batters. His second act as a reliever was a major disappointment, as he failed to save a single game last year while seeing his strikeout rate fall to 21.7 percent and his ERA soar to 9.00. At age 36, it's hard to envision him making a full rebound and pushing for a high-leverage role, though he could still help the Rangers if he bounces back merely part of the way to that level.

Kennedy (calf) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Kennedy was initially believed to be out for the remainder of the regular season after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his left calf, but he'll return for the final series of the regular season. The right-hander hasn't recorded any saves in 2020 while posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.79 WHIP over 14 innings across 15 appearances (one start).

Manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday that Kennedy's MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain of his left calf, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. He's expected to need at least three weeks to recover from the injury.

EDGE Analysis

Based on that projected timeline, Kennedy's season is over, unless the 14-22 Royals make a surprise run through the playoffs. An impending free agent, Kennedy likely would have been a prime candidate to be moved prior to Monday's trade deadline, but the calf injury cooled his market. Tabbed by many heading into the season as the Royals' presumptive closer, Kennedy will likely finish the 2020 campaign with zero saves to go with a 9.00 ERA and 1.79 WHIP over 14 innings.

Kennedy will undergo an MRI on his strained left calf, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kennedy will miss at least 10 days with the injury, as he was placed on the injured list Monday. Whether or not he'll be forced to miss an extended period should become clear once the results of his MRI are known.