Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.
With southpaw Matthew Boyd on the bump for Detroit, Smith and fellow lefty hitter Travis Jankowski will both head to the bench while the righty-hitting Bubba Thompson picks up a start in left field. While Ezequiel Duran (oblique) is on the shelf, Smith and Jankowski will likely be jockeying for one spot in Texas' everyday lineup versus right-handed pitching.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Takes seat Sunday
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Though Smith is on the bench Sunday, he could be an option to claim a near-everyday spot in the lineup against right-handed pitching after Ezequiel Duran (oblique) was moved to the 10-day injured list Saturday. Outfielder Travis Jankowski (hamstring) -- who was activated from the IL in a corresponding move -- will take Duran's spot in the lineup Sunday, but Smith had filled in for Duran in left field in both of the previous two contests.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Clubs homer
Rotowire
Smith hit a solo home run in his only at-bat in Sunday's 13-3 win over the Rockies.
Smith served as a defensive replacement for Marcus Semien at second base in the blowout win. In his lone at-bat, Smith took Alan Trejo deep in the eighth inning. With the return of Corey Seager, there's no longer a clear path to playing time for Smith, so he's returned to a utility role. The 25-year-old is slashing .222/.385/.389 with three homers, four RBI, 14 runs scored, a stolen base and three doubles through 92 plate appearances.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Rejoins lineup Monday
Rotowire
Smith (foot) will serve as the Rangers' designated hitter and No. 8 batter in Monday's game against Atlanta.
Smith is back in action after a sore left foot prompted his early exit from Saturday's 5-0 win over the Athletics and then resulted in him sitting out Sunday in the 11-3 victory in the series finale. When healthy, Smith has started in five of the Rangers' last six games, but his run as a regular in the Texas lineup will likely come to an end when shortstop Corey Seager (hamstring) is activated from the injured list at some point later this week.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: X-rays negative
Rotowire
X-rays on Smith's foot have come back negative.
Smith was hit on the left foot Saturday and was removed from the game. Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Smith was "pretty banged up" and held him out of Sunday's series finale against the Athletics. The utility player will continue to undergo evaluation.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Out Sunday with sore foot
Rotowire
Smith (foot) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics and isn't expected to be available off the bench, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
After Travis Jankowski (hamstring) hit the injured list Tuesday, Smith resurfaced as a regular in the lineup against right-handed pitching, starting in four of the Rangers' past five games. Though Smith went 5-for-10 with three doubles over that stretch of action to build a strong case for continuing to earn ample playing time, he's now day-to-day with an injury of his own. Even if Smith avoids the IL, he could soon find himself on the outs for a regular lineup spot with Corey Seager (hamstring) likely on track to return from the shelf during the upcoming week.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Leaves with left foot soreness
Rotowire
Smith left Saturday's game against the Athletics with left foot soreness. X-rays returned negative and he'll continue to be evaluated.
Smith was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning and was unable to continue. The outfielder should be considered day-to-day and likely will get a chance to rest for Sunday's series finale against the Athletics.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Stays in lineup
Rotowire
Smith started at designated hitter and went 2-for-4 with a double in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Seattle.
Smith made a second consecutive start following a two-hit effort Tuesday, when he started in left field. At-bats had been dwindling for Smith, whose last start came April 27 before getting into lineup on consecutive days this week. With Travis Jankowski (hamstring) on the IL, Smith could become a regular whenever there is righty on the mound. The super-utility fielder has hit in three straight games, going 5-for-10 with two doubles, one home run, two RBI and a stolen base.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts in left field
Rotowire
Smith started in left field and went 2-for-3 with a double in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to Seattle.
The Rangers placed primary left fielder Travis Jankowski (hamstring) on the injured list Tuesday, which opened a lane to at-bats for Smith and Robbie Grossman. Smith had been part of the fill-in solution at shortstop while Corey Seager (hamstring) works his way back, but the suddenly hot Ezequiel Duran has since taken over as the primary substitute there.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Strong off bench Sunday
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Sunday's 16-8 win over the Angels.
Travis Jankowski (hamstring) left the game in the second inning, and Smith filled in admirably. The homer was Smith's second of the season, and it put the Rangers ahead 7-3. This was the utility man's first game action in May after he played semi-regularly in April. He's slashing .154/.353/.269 with three RBI, 11 runs scored and one steal through 69 plate appearances. If Jankowski ends up on the injured list, Smith could be a strong-side platoon option in left field.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sitting third straight game
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.
It's the third consecutive game on the bench for the 25-year-old, as Ezequiel Duran appears to have taken hold of the starting job at shortstop with Corey Seager (hamstring) on the shelf. Smith saw most of his action in the first couple weeks of the season in left field, but Travis Jankowski and Bubba Thompson have recently been splitting time at that position.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Not in lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the lineup Saturday against the Yankees.
Smith has been a versatile defender out of the gate for the Rangers, but he is just 7-for-48 (.146) with one extra-base hit through 21 games.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Hits first homer
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-4 with a home run in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to Cincinnati.
Smith extended Texas' lead to 6-0 in the sixth inning with a solo homer off Luke Weaver, his first of the season. Smith is still slashing just .171/.382/.244 with an RBI and seven runs scored through 56 plate appearances this season. The 25-year-old Smith has been platooning with Ezequiel Duran at shortstop, though he'll likely be relegated to a bench role when Corey Seager (hamstring) is able to return.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Out against lefty again
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
The lefty-hitting Smith will give way to the righty-hitting Ezequiel Duran at shortstop with southpaw Nick Lodolo on the bump for Cincinnati. Smith has now been on the bench three times in four games, with all three absences coming when Texas has opposed left-handed starting pitchers.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sits versus lefty
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Smith will step out of the lineup Sunday with southpaw Kyle Muller pitching for Oakland. Ezequiel Duran will start at shortstop while Bubba Thompson mans left field.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Out Friday against lefty
Rotowire
Smith isn't starting Friday's game against Oakland.
After a 1-for-3 performance in his last game, Smith will sit against the left-handed JP Sears. Ezequiel Duran will start at shortstop in Smith's place Friday and bat seventh.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sitting out Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith isn't starting Tuesday against the Royals.
It's been a struggle for Smith at the plate lately -- he's slashing just .067/.263/.067 over the past week. His slump will cost him another start Tuesday, with Ezequiel Duran taking over at shortstop and batting seventh.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sits versus lefty
Rotowire
Smith is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
The 25-year-old started the past three games at shortstop in the absence of Corey Seager (hamstring), but he'll take a seat Sunday after he went 1-for-10 with five strikeouts during that stretch. Ezequiel Duran will take over at shortstop with lefty Framber Valdez pitching for Houston.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Makes costly error
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-3 and was hit by a pitch in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Astros.
Smith, who made a third consecutive start at shortstop in place of the injured Corey Seager (hamstring), made a costly error in the seventh inning on a potential double-play grounder. The miscue allowed two runs to score and extended the inning for Houston to tack on another two runs. The lefty-batting Smith may give way to Ezequiel Duran in Sunday's series finale when the Astros are scheduled to start southpaw Framber Valdez.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at short again
Rotowire
Smith started at shortstop and went 0-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt in Friday's 6-2 win over the Astros.
Smith started once again for the injured Corey Seager (hamstring), slotting in at second in the order. That was Seager's spot in the order, and it appears Texas manager Bruce Bochy wants to limit disruption to the normal batting order. Smith is not expected to replace Seager's production, but he does handle the bat well, as evidenced by his fifth-inning bunt that moved runners and set up Nathaniel Lowe's two-run single. With Houston scheduled to start another righty Saturday, Smith should make a third straight start. The righty-hitting Ezequiel Duran could start at shortstop Sunday, when Astros lefty Framber Valdez is projected to start, the Rangers' first game against a southpaw since Seager's injury.
