Smith was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Padres due to a jammed left thumb.
The injury doesn't sound like the sort of thing which could place Smith's readiness for Opening Day in serious doubt. The team expects him to be ready to go by Monday, per Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Roster chances improve
Rotowire
Smith should benefit from the Rangers' decision to designate Mark Mathias for assignment Saturday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Mathias was bumped from the 40-man roster to create space for reliever Will Smith, who was signed by the Rangers on Saturday. Weaver goes into great detail as to what the transaction means for several players on the roster, including Smith, who was in a battle to make the team in a utility role. While he can't provide the right-handed bench bat that Mathias did, Smith's ability to play shortstop gives the Rangers insurance that Mathias could not supply. Smith, who came to Texas in the Joey Gallo trade, posted a .197/.307/.249 line over 253 plate appearances in 2022.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Will play many positions
Rotowire
Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Smith will play all infield positions and left field during spring games, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. "I think he's comfortable moving around," Bochy said. "He's already done it, so that's always a good thing."
Smith came through the system as a shortstop, but he's blocked by Corey Seager in the majors. That means he'll have to make the team in a utility capacity. He debuted in the majors in 2022, playing 36 games at third base, 24 in left field, six at shortstop, five as the designated hitter and two at second base. Smith posted a line of .197/.307/.249 over 73 games.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sitting out versus lefty
Rotowire
Smith isn't starting Friday's game against the Angels.
The left-handed Smith will take a seat Friday with fellow lefty Reid Detmers starting the game on the mound for Los Angeles. While he sits, Mark Mathias will take his spot in left field and bat sixth.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at shortstop
Rotowire
Smith started at shortstop and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a caught stealing in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Mariners.
Smith started in place of the injured Corey Seager (forearm), who may have avoided serious damage after being plunked by a pitch Tuesday, though it's unclear how much time Seager will miss. With left-hander Marco Gonzales on the bump Thursday for the Mariners, the left-handed hitting Smith may take a seat even if Seager is not ready to return.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Enters for Seager
Rotowire
Smith entered Tuesday's 5-0 win over Seattle as a pinch runner after Corey Seager left with a forearm injury.
Seager, who was removed after being plunked on the inner left forearm, was replaced by Smith on the bases then in the field for the final inning. Seager is considered day-to-day, which could lead to starts for Smith in the coming days. Mark Mathias and Charlie Culberson are also around for infield depth.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners.
Smith is 4-for-34 over his past 11 contests and will take a seat Tuesday in Seattle. Bubba Thompson and Adolis Garcia will start in the corner outfield while Charlie Culberson serves as the designated hitter.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Mashes second home run
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Wednesday's victory over the Angels.
After tallying an RBI with a fielder's choice in the second inning, Smith provided a big insurance run for the Rangers on Wednesday , as he hit a solo shot in the seventh to improve the lead to 4-2. The home run was his second of the season and first extra-base hit since July 29. He is slashing .205/.311/.261 through 205 plate appearances this season and will likely maintain a part-time role moving forward.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Not in Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Smith isn't starting Saturday against the Rays.
Smith has hit just .100 with a run and seven strikeouts over six games since rejoining the major-league club, and he'll be on the bench for the third time in the last five matchups. Bubba Thompson is starting in left field and batting ninth.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Out of lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith isn't starting Wednesday against the Athletics.
Smith has gone 0-for-11 with three strikeouts over his last three games and will be on the bench for the second time in the last three matchups. Nick Solak is starting in left field and batting eighth Wednesday.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Fills in at shortstop
Rotowire
Smith started at shortstop in place of the resting Corey Seager and went 0-for-4 in Tuesday's 8-7 win over the Athletics.
Smith has mostly played third base or left field this season, and Tuesday's start at shortstop was his first of the season. With Josh Jung up with the team and playing every day at third base, opportunities for Smith are in short supply. Bubba Thompson has been the primary left fielder, so it should be random starts for Smith, who is batting .193 since the All-Star break.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sits Game 2 on Monday
Rotowire
Smith isn't in the lineup for the nightcap of Monday's doubleheader in Miami.
The 24-year-old went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the afternoon game and is an unimpressive 2-for-14 since the beginning of September. Kole Calhoun and Bubba Thompson will man the outfield corners Monday night.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Gets look as full-time outfielder
Rotowire
Smith will start in left field and bat eighth in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Marlins.
After receiving a promotion from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Smith has stepped in as the Rangers' new everyday left fielder while Kole Calhoun has moved into a bench role. Even with a lefty (Trevor Rogers) taking the hill for Miami in Game 1, the lefty-hitting Smith will draw his fourth consecutive start after going 2-for-10 with a run scored in the Rangers' three-game series with Toronto over the weekend.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Recalled by Rangers
Rotowire
Smith was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Smith was sent to Round Rock on Aug. 21, and he slashed .386/.491/.727 with two homers, two triples, five doubles, 15 RBI, 14 runs and a stolen base over 11 games following his demotion. He'll rejoin the major-league club after Ezequiel Duran was sent down Thursday but will likely have to compete for playing time at third base since Josh Jung is expected to be called up by the Rangers on Friday.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Returns to minors
Rotowire
The Rangers optioned Smith to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
Shortly after the All-Star break, Smith's hold on the everyday third-base job had started to loosen, with the rookie having handled more of a utility role of late. Considering Smith had started in only two of the previous five games and was batting just .206 in August, the Rangers evidently felt the 25-year-old was best off heading back to Triple-A to regain confidence at the dish and play on a more frequent basis. Outfielder Kole Calhoun (heel) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and took over Smith's spot on the 26-man active roster.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith is on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Athletics.
Smith is on the bench for the fourth time in seven games, and he appears to have shifted into more of a super-utility role of late after previously seeing action as the Rangers' primary third baseman earlier this month. Ezequiel Duran has since taken over as the preferred option at the position, with his hot hitting and Smith's modest .576 OPS since the beginning of August likely being the primary factors.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Smith will be on the bench Saturday against Seattle.
Smith will be on the bench for the third time in Texas' last four games, but two of those have come against lefties like Saturday's starter Marco Gonzales. Ezequiel Duran will be the third baseman Saturday, while Elier Hernandez handles left field.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Remains out of lineup
Rotowire
Smith isn't starting Thursday against the Astros.
Smith's playing time has declined recently, and he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Ezequiel Duran will shift to third base while Charlie Culberson enters the lineup in left field.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Heads to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith isn't starting Wednesday against Houston.
Smith is out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after he went 0-for-3 with a run, a stolen base and a strikeout during Tuesday's loss to the Astros. Ezequiel Duran is shifting to third base while Brad Miller serves as the designated hitter.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Takes seat Sunday
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Fellow rookie Ezequiel Duran will take over at third base while Smith sits for the second time in the four-game series. Smith is slashing an unremarkable .234/.321/.255 in 16 games since the All-Star break and may have to settle for something less than an everyday role until his performance proves worthy of a larger share of playing time.
