Smith (back) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Smith had missed the Rangers' last two games while tending to a sore lower back, but the team had labeled him as day-to-day and never expressed much concern that he would require a stint on the injured list. The super-utility man had made his previous two starts at first base before his brief absence, but he'll likely see the bulk of his reps at shortstop for the foreseeable future after the Rangers placed Corey Seager (hamstring) back on the IL on Tuesday. Smith took over as the everyday leadoff man earlier this month and should continue to maintain those duties while he's gotten on base at a .389 clip through his first 36 games of the season.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith (back) is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Rockies on Tuesday.
Smith will be out of Texas' lineup for a second consecutive game while nursing a sore lower back. Jake Burger will start at first base and bat seventh while Ezequiel Duran mans shortstop against Rockies southpaw Kyle Freeland.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Nursing sore back
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies due to back soreness, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Smith was not included in the lineup the Rangers released, but evidently the plan had been for him to play before his back began aching. He is considered day-to-day.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Kicks off fireworks
Rotowire
Smith started at first base and went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 10-3 win over the Tigers.
Smith got things rolling in the blowout win, homering off Jack Flaherty to lead off the game, and the Rangers followed with four more long balls before the day was done. Smith started at first base for the third time in the last five contests. In the other two games, he filled in at shortstop for Corey Seager, who was nursing a mild hamstring strain. Smith may be the choice at first base against right-handers following Jake Burger's demotion. Smith is slashing .315/.387/.477 with four home runs, 10 RBI, four steals and 18 runs through 34 games.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Makes second straight start at SS
Rotowire
Smith started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Tigers.
Smith made a second straight start at shortstop, as Corey Seager rested his hamstring Thursday and Friday, per Steve Kornacki of MLB.com. Smith has hit safely in five consecutive games, going 10-for-21 with a triple, two RBI and three runs scored.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Collects four hits
Rotowire
Smith went 4-for-5 with an RBI triple and two runs scored in Sunday's win over Seattle.
Smith served as the Rangers' leadoff hitter for the third straight game and set the tone for the 8-1 win. He singled in the first, third and fourth innings, and added an RBI triple in the eighth. Corey Seager (hamstring) returned to his post at shortstop, so Smith took over center field duties Sunday. Smith is slashing .311/.386/.478 with eight extra-base hits and 16 runs scored and could see regular duty in center field after the Rangers placed Leody Taveras on waivers.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Remains at short
Rotowire
Smith started at shortstop and went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Seattle.
Corey Seager was activated off the 10-day injured list Saturday but was deployed as the DH, leaving Smith at shortstop for at least one more game. Texas' somnambulant offense needs Smith, who is one of the few batters producing with any regularity, so expect manager Bruce Bochy to find a home for the utility player somewhere on the diamond. The Rangers have lost four straight games, and Smith's home run Friday has been the lone extra-base hit for the team during the losing streak.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Swats homer in loss
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 13-1 loss to the Mariners.
Smith's ninth-inning blast off Troy Taylor kept the Rangers from getting shut out, but that was about the only positive they could take from the game. Smith had gone just 5-for-28 (.179) over nine contests since his last homer against the Athletics on April 22. The utility player has slowed down a bit but still has a .296/.380/.457 slash line over 93 plate appearances this season. He's added three homers, seven RBI, 14 runs scored, four stolen bases and four doubles in 27 games.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Joins offensive party
Rotowire
Smith went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 15-2 win over the Athletics.
Smith kicked off the fun of Texas' eight-run sixth inning, leading off with a single. He hit second in the order after serving as a leadoff hitter recently. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has tinkered with the lineup, hoping to unlock a struggling offense, and it worked Tuesday. Smith, who is currently filling in for the injured Corey Seager (hamstring) at shortstop, is batting .319/.402/.458 with 10 walks, two home runs, six RBI, four steals and 13 runs scored through 24 games.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Fills in at shortstop
Rotowire
Smith started at shortstop and went 0-for-4 with a walk in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics.
Smith filled in for the injured Corey Seager (hamstring) and is expected to handle the strong side of a platoon at short in his absence. Nick Ahmed, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Round Rock earlier this week, started Wednesday against a lefty. Smith has also hit leadoff the last two times Texas has faced a right-handed pitcher.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Moved to leadoff
Rotowire
Smith batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 with a walk, a home run, an RBI and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Athletics.
Among the several lineup tweaks made by Texas manager Bruce Bochy, Smith was moved to the leadoff spot with Marcus Semien being dropped to fifth. The move, designed to fix a struggling offense, paid off for at least one night. The lineup and batting order tweaks came against a right-hander, and it's uncertain if Bochy will continue the practice against lefties. That will be determined Wednesday when the Rangers face southpaw JP Sears. One thing for certain is that Smith is hitting well out of the gates and getting his bat in the lineup is needed. He started in center field in place of Leody Taveras on Tuesday and eventually moved to shortstop when Corey Seager was removed due to a hamstring injury. In the past, Smith has been the primary fill-in at short whenever Seager dealt with an injury.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at DH
Rotowire
Smith started at designated hitter against a right-hander and went 3-for-4 in Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Dodgers.
Smith replaced a struggling Joc Pederson, who's batting just .055 (3-for-55). The season-opening slump may eventually cost Pederson his job as the DH against righties. Smith is hitting too well -- he's up to .378 following Sunday's loss -- to ignore and could gain a greater share of starts at DH going forward.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sitting third straight
Rotowire
Smith (thumb) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.
Thursday will mark the third straight game Smith has missed while he continues to nurse a bruised thumb. Dustin Harris will pick up another start in left field as a result, and the Rangers may consider placing Smith on the IL if he's unable to return to action soon.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Moves to left field
Rotowire
Smith started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Mariners.
Smith, who had filled in at third base when Josh Jung was unavailable, moved to left field with Wyatt Langford (oblique) on the injured list. The versatile infielder/outfielder is 10-for-24 with three doubles, a home run, two RBI, three steals and seven runs scored over the last eight games. Kevin Pillar could see time in left field against southpaws, but Smith is expected to be the primary fill-in while Langford is out.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at first base
Rotowire
Smith started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to the Cubs.
Smith's steady gig as a fill-in third baseman ended Tuesday with the return of Josh Jung; however, Texas manager Bruce Bochy wanted to keep Smith's lively bat -- 7-for-17 over the previous six games -- in the lineup. So, the manager gave Jake Burger (.105) a break at first base. Smith could reprise his temporary fill-in role at another position, as left fielder Wyatt Langford (side) was removed in the seventh inning Tuesday.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Fill-in gig ending
Rotowire
Smith started at third base and went 0-for-2 with a walk in Monday's 7-0 loss to the Cubs.
Smith has been the primary fill-in at third base while Josh Jung (neck) worked his way back from the 10-day injured list. Jung's IL stint is expected to end Tuesday, when the Rangers plan to activate him. That means Smith will be free to play one of the many other positions on his resume. Smith batted .350 (7-for-20) over seven games since Jung was placed on the IL.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Slugs first homer of year
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over the Rays.
The utility infielder took Zack Littell deep in the seventh inning to account for the game's final run. Smith was getting the start at third base and batting seventh, and he figures to see the bulk of the playing time at the hot corner while Josh Jung (neck) is sidelined. Through seven appearances this season, Smith is batting .250 (4-for-16) with a homer, a steal, two RBI and three runs.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at third base
Rotowire
Smith started at third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Monday's 14-3 loss to the Reds.
Smith returned from a quadricep injury to fill in at third for the injured Josh Jung (IL-neck). It's likely he'll be the primary fill-in at the hot corner until Jung is ready to return. Ezequiel Duran and Jonathan Ornelas are also around and could grab a start or two against a lefty.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Removed from Saturday's game
Rotowire
Smith was removed from Saturday's game against the Red Sox due to a left leg injury, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Smith collided with the fence in the top of the first inning while attempting to field a flyball that was drifting into foul territory. He was evaluated by a trainer and initially stayed in, but Ezequiel Duran pinch hit for Smith in the bottom of the inning. Smith will likely undergo further tests to determine the extent of the injury.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Plays fifth different position
Rotowire
Smith started in right field and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's spring game against the Athletics.
Smith started at a fifth different position Tuesday -- he's also defended first base, shortstop, third base and center field -- and manager Bruce Bochy plans for him to play all fielding positions except catcher this spring, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports. The home run was Smith's first of the Cactus League, and he's batting .316 (6-for-19) through seven outings.
