Pillar is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Athletics due to back soreness, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The veteran outfielder is usually in the lineup against left-handed pitching, but the back issue will keep him on the bench versus A's southpaw Jacob Lopez. Pillar is likely to sit again Wednesday against righty Luis Severino but could be back in the starting nine Thursday against lefty Jeffrey Springs.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: Notches two steals Saturday
Rotowire
Pillar went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Giants.
Pillar has settled into a short-side platoon role in the Rangers' outfield, and he got the start in center field against southpaw Robbie Ray on Saturday. There's always been some speed in Pillar's game, so it shouldn't be too surprising to see him get involved on the basepaths. He's batting .300 with a .667 OPS, one RBI, six runs scored and three steals over 30 plate appearances in 2025, but there's virtually no chance he sees steady playing time, especially with the Rangers' outfield at full health.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: Starts against lefty
Rotowire
Pillar started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Angels.
Pillar filled in for the injured Wyatt Langford (oblique) with lefty Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for the Angels. Pillar and Josh Smith (against righties) have shared left field since Langford was added to the injured list last week. The Rangers are scheduled to face a right-hander in Jose Soriano on Wednesday.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: Starts in left field
Rotowire
Pillar started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Cubs.
Pillar singled and scored in the fifth inning. He filled in for the injured Wyatt Langford, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with an oblique injury. Pillar drew the start against lefty Shota Imanaga, but Josh Smith could be the preferred option Friday when the Rangers face Seattle righty Bryce Miller.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: Enters following teammate's injury
Rotowire
Pillar took over in left field Tuesday after Wyatt Langford (side) was removed from the Rangers' 10-6 loss to the Cubs. Pillar went 0-for-1 in his lone plate appearance.
Depending on the extent of Langford's injury, Pillar could see time in left field in the short term. Josh Smith, who was already in the game at first base, is also an option.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: In lineup against lefty
Rotowire
Pillar started in center field and went 0-for-3 in Monday's 7-0 loss to the Cubs.
Pillar made his second start of the season, both coming as the center fielder against lefties. Leody Taveras is the primary center fielder when the Rangers face righties. Pillar is 4-for-10 with a stolen base, an RBI and three runs scored through five outings.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: Contract selected
Rotowire
The Rangers selected Pillar's contract from Double-A Frisco on Wednesday.
Pillar initially planned for 2025 to mark the first year of his retirement, but after changing his mind in December and slashing .273/.320/.386 in spring training, the 36-year-old now finds himself on Texas' Opening Day roster. His best chance to play will be as a DH against left-handed starters; otherwise, Pillar likely won't crack the starting nine very often.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: Makes Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Pillar will be on the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Pillar said late last season that he was going to retire, but he changed his mind and has now made an Opening Day roster. Manager Bruce Bochy said that Pillar could see some starts against lefties between designated hitter and center field, although the skipper noted that a platoon in center with Leody Taveras is not a guarantee.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: In hunt for roster spot
Rotowire
Pillar started in right field and went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in Friday's spring game against San Diego.
Pillar, who signed as a non-roster invitee after spring training began, has helped his chances of making the roster during Cactus League competition. He's batting .296 (8-for-27) with a double, six RBI and two steals over 10 spring games. He could serve as a utility outfielder, capable of filling in at all three spots. His primary competition for the roster appears to be Ezequiel Duran, who's struggles in 2024 have carried over to the spring. Duran is batting .185 (5-for-27) with one double and two steals over 12 games. Pillar won out over Duran in the latest projected Opening Day roster compiled by Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.
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Rangers' Kevin Pillar: Joins Texas as NRI
Rotowire
The Rangers signed Pillar (thumb) to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training Sunday.
Pillar said last summer that he was leaning toward retirement, but he later changed his mind and stated in December that he hopes to play in 2025. The veteran outfielder will have a chance to battle for a roster spot during spring training with the Rangers, who would represent the 10th team he's played for over a seven-year span if he's able to make the club. Pillar underwent left thumb surgery during the offseason, but the issue isn't expected to hold him back from taking part in games during the exhibition slate.
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Kevin Pillar: Changes mind, wants to play in 2025
Rotowire
Pillar (thumb) said Monday in an interview on MLB Network that he wants to continue playing in 2025.
Pillar said back in July that he was "98 percent" sure he was going to retire following the 2024 season, but after taking "some time to reflect," he's now changing his tune and hopes to latch on with a club for 2025. The veteran outfielder also revealed that he underwent left thumb surgery at the beginning of the offseason. Pillar will turn 36 in January and should be healthy for the start of spring training. He slashed .310/.352/.500versus left-handed pitching in 2024 and should have a decent chance to land a job as a reserve or short-side platoon outfielder.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Productive in Friday's loss
Rotowire
Pillar went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 9-7 loss to the Astros.
In his return from a thumb injury, the veteran outfielder took Hector Neris deep in the seventh inning as the Angels tried to mount a comeback from an early 6-1 deficit, but it was the last run Pillar's team would score on the night. Pillar's 11 steals on the season are his most since 2019, and the 35-year-old has managed a respectable .242/.300/.402 slash line over 291 plate appearances with eight homers, 36 runs and 45 RBI.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Yet to resume activities
Rotowire
The Angels announced Monday that Pillar (thumb) has yet to resume baseball activities since being placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Pillar doesn't look like he'll be on track to return from the IL in the minimum 10 days while he contends with a sprained left thumb, but he should have a chance at playing again this season if he's able to increase his workouts in the coming days. The 35-year-old has already announced plans to retire after the season, so he may have some extra incentive to push for a return to the field later this month even while the Angels are on the precipice of being eliminated from playoff contention.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Placed on IL
Rotowire
The Angels placed Pillar on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a sprained left thumb.
Pillar likely picked up the injury during Friday's game against Texas after he replaced Jo Adell (oblique) in the second inning. With Adell joining Pillar on the injured list, Jordyn Adams and Bryce Teodosio were added to the 28-man active roster and should see plenty of work in the outfield.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Returning to bench role
Rotowire
Pillar is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Pillar will head back to the bench after he had started in each of the Angels' previous four contests. The Angels faced one left-handed starter (Brant Hurter) during that stretch, and Mickey Moniak also missed two games with an elbow injury, so despite what his recent usage might suggest, Pillar still looks to be stuck in a fourth-outfielder role.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Getting third straight start
Rotowire
Pillar will start in left field and bat third in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Though Pillar will be getting his third straight start Sunday, he's likely to move back into a fourth-outfielder role during the upcoming week. Mickey Moniak (elbow) will return to the lineup Sunday in center field following a two-game absence, but the Angels were able to keep a spot open in the outfield for Pillar since Taylor Ward is handling designated-hitter duties while Anthony Rendon receives a day off. Pillar is likely to be limited to the short side of a platoon with Moniak during the final month of the season.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Two hits, stolen base in loss
Rotowire
Pillar went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's loss to the A's.
The outfielder doubled with one out in the second inning before coming around to score the Angels' first run on a Logan O'Hoppe single. Pillar later added a single of his own, giving him just his second multi-hit performance this month. He has hit safely in two of his last three games, posting two RBI, two runs and two stolen bases over that brief stretch.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Plans to retire after season
Rotowire
Pillar said Saturday that he's "98 percent sure" he'll retire from professional baseball after this season, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Pillar made the revelation after reaching 10 years of service time, which means he will be eligible for a fully-vested pension. The 35-year-old struggled with the White Sox out of the gate this season but has slashed .305/.360/.516 in 42 games since joining the Angels in April.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Clubs homer in loss
Rotowire
Pillar went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Astros.
Pillar had gone 1-for-10 over his first four games in June before this multi-hit effort. His second-inning homer was all the Angels could put up against Framber Valdez, who pitched a complete game. Pillar is up to seven homers, 26 RBI, 17 runs scored and a .324/.379/.590 slash line over 117 plate appearances between the Angels and the White Sox this season. Despite his strong numbers recently, he's been on the bench for two of the last five games, which suggests Pillar doesn't have a full-time role against right-handed pitchers.
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Angels' Kevin Pillar: Homers in three-hit game
Rotowire
Pillar went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Yankees.
Pillar has hit safely in his last 11 games, going 20-for-41 (.488) in that span. He's logged a trio of three-hit efforts during the streak. The outfielder is up to a .349/.402/.639 slash line with six homers, 24 RBI, 14 runs scored, six stolen bases, four doubles and a triple over 34 contests this season. He struggled initially with the White Sox, but he's been excellent since joining the Angels at the end of April.
