Duran is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Duran had started in seven of the Rangers' previous eight games, but he'll hit the bench Sunday for the second time in the series. Despite a slow start to the season, Josh Smith still appears to be viewed as the Rangers' top option at second base, though Duran will likely spell him against most left-handed pitching and should also continue to see semi-regular opportunities versus righties due to his ability to play all over the infield as well as both corner-outfield spots. Duran has been productive when called upon this season, slashing .289/.347/.422 with one home run and three stolen bases over 49 plate appearances.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Remains productive in loss
Rotowire
Duran started at second base and went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Mariners.
Duran notched a run-scoring double in the ninth inning, as the Rangers mounted a comeback that eventually lost steam. He might have made the start against Seattle's George Kirby because he has a better track record against the right-hander than the Rangers' primary second baseman, the lefty-hitting Josh Smith. The start may also be a sign that Smith's season-opening slump (.177 average, 20 games) has left his starting spot vulnerable. Duran, who has played multiple positions, is slashing .289/.347/.422 over 17 games played.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against Mariners right-hander George Kirby on Saturday.
Smith will be on the bench for the start of Saturday's game after going 1-for-11 with one RBI and a 2:5 BB:K over his last three outings. The righty-hitting Ezequiel Duran will start at the keystone and bat eighth.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: In left field Saturday
Rotowire
Duran went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers.
Duran, who replaced Wyatt Langford (quad) in left field Friday and started there Saturday. Langford underwent an MRI on Saturday, which indicated his quad injury is a mild strain, per Jacob Gurvis of MLB.com. He was considered to be available off the bench, which suggests Duran's stay in left field will be a short one.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Enters for injured teammate
Rotowire
Duran entered Friday's 8-7 loss to the Dodgers to play left field after Wyatt Langford (quad) was removed and went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Duran extended a hit streak to three games with a ninth-inning RBI-single. Langford will undergo imaging to determine the severity of the injury. If the results of the testing leads to Langford missing games or a stint on the IL, either Duran or Sam Haggerty could fill in. Duran had been playing third base in place of the banged-up Josh Jung, who returned to duty Friday after a two-game absence.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Homers in win
Rotowire
Duran started at third base and went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Orioles.
Duran put the Rangers up early with a solo shot in the third inning. He filled in for the struggling Josh Jung, who is 0-for-17 to start the season. The versatile Duran has started twice this season -- the other start coming at second base -- and contributed an extra-base hit and RBI in each contest.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Contributes to win
Rotowire
Duran started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Phillies.
Duran entered the starting nine for the first time this season, replacing Josh Smith at second base against Philadelphia lefty Jesus Luzardo. There's been no indication Duran and Smith are in a strict platoon -- Smith started Opening Day against a lefty -- and Sunday's start could merely be manager Skip Schumaker keeping his bench players involved.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Nets deal for 2026
Rotowire
Duran agreed to a one-year contract with the Rangers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Duran played 90 games for the Rangers last season and had a career-worst .559 OPS, failing to hit a home run in 219 plate appearances. The 26-year-old has a contract for 2026 but likely won't have much roster security given that he has a .237/.278/.309 slash line across the past two seasons.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Gaining foothold in lineup
Rotowire
Duran is batting eighth and playing second base in Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Duran will remain in the lineup for the fourth time in five games and will be occupying the keystone for the second day in a row. With super-utility man Josh Smith likely to see most of his playing time at shortstop moving forward due to Corey Seager (appendectomy) being potentially lost for the season, Duran could end up emerging as the Rangers' primary option at second base. Duran has been productive at the plate throughout August, slashing .328/.349/.410 with no home runs and three stolen bases through 20 games on the month.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Sitting after three straight starts
Rotowire
Duran is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
Duran will head to the bench for the series opener, but he had started in each of the last three contests and should be in store for an uptick in playing time after Marcus Semien (foot) was deactivated Saturday with a likely season-ending injury. Josh Smith will cover second base Monday, but if the Rangers prefer to use the versatile Smith in the outfield while Evan Carter (wrist) is on the shelf, Duran could have a fairly clear path to making regular starts at the keystone.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Drives in three runs
Rotowire
Duran went 1-for-5 with a two-run double and an additional RBI during the Rangers' 10-0 win over the Guardians on Saturday.
Duran played a big factor in Saturday's blowout win, bringing home two on a double in the fourth inning before capping the Rangers' scoring with an RBI groundout in the sixth. Duran has logged at least one hit in each of his last four games, and since Aug. 1 he has gone 16-for-41 (.390) with two steals, four doubles and six RBI.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Sitting for second straight game
Rotowire
Duran is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
After Jake Burger (oblique) was placed on the injured list Saturday, Duran started each of the Rangers' ensuing three games at first base and went 1-for-10 with a walk and a run scored. The poor three-game run as a starter may have closed Duran's window for steady playing time temporarily, as he'll now find himself on the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher (Brandon Young) for the second straight day. Super-utility man Josh Smith will serve as the Rangers' first baseman Wednesday, and the Rangers may use Burger's vacated lineup spot to cycle in a number of different players at designated hitter.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Scores run in loss
Rotowire
Duran started at first base and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 win over Pittsburgh.
The utility player is expected to serve as the Rangers' primary option at first base after Jake Burger (oblique) landed on the injured list Saturday. Duran's opportunities have picked up over the last week, as Josh Smith dealt with a hamstring injury and Josh Jung was given a multi-day mental break. Duran's had effective offensive stretches while with the Rangers -- most notably in 2023 when he posted a .767 OPS with 14 home runs and eight steals in 122 games -- but he hasn't gained regular traction in the big-league lineup over the past season and a half.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Playing time to increase
Rotowire
Manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that Duran will see the majority of the reps at first base while Jake Burger (oblique) is on the injured list, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Bochy also gave Duran some praise for his recent work at the plate, which is another positive sign for Duran's fantasy outlook. The 26-year-old has just 51 plate appearances this season and has logged a poor .455 OPS, but he has three doubles in his last nine at-bats and will have an opportunity to prove himself in a larger role. Justin Foscue and Josh Smith could occasionally start at first base while Burger is sidelined.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Drawing third straight start
Rotowire
Duran will start at designated hitter and bat ninth Wednesday against the Royals.
Duran will get a third consecutive start, this time handling a non-defensive role after he filled in at third base for Josh Jung in the previous two contests. Jung is back in the lineup Wednesday, and Josh Smith (hamstring) is expected to be back in the starting nine by the weekend, so Duran appears likely to be headed back to a bench role in the near future.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Gets another start at shortstop
Rotowire
Duran started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 with a run scored in Monday's 2-1 win over the Rockies.
Duran make his second straight start in place of the injured Corey Seager (hamstring). Josh Smith is typically the next man up at shortstop, but he was unavailable Monday due to back soreness. Once or both of Seager and Smith return to action, Duran will likely see fewer opportunities in the Texas infield.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Promotion made official
Rotowire
The Rangers recalled Duran from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
The Rangers played a man short in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, as they put Kevin Pillar (back) on the injured list prior to the contest but had to wait for Duran to arrive in Boston after traveling. Duran is with the big club now, and he'll serve in a utility role.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Promotion imminent
Rotowire
The Rangers are expected to recall Duran from Triple-A Round Rock ahead of Thursday's game against the Red Sox, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Texas has already placed Kevin Pillar (back) on the injured list in a corresponding move, but since Duran isn't scheduled to arrive in Boston prior to Wednesday's contest, the Rangers will wait until Thursday to make his promotion official. Duran will offer depth at all four infield spots and both corner-outfield spots and will likely see most of his starts against left-handed pitching. He had been on the fire at the plate since being optioned to Triple-A on April 20, slashing .346/.393/.673 with four home runs and five stolen bases over 13 games.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Sent down to minors
Rotowire
The Rangers optioned Duran to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Texas needed to clear a spot on the 26-man roster for the return of Wyatt Langford (oblique), and Duran was the recipient of a demotion. The 26-year-old has been unable to get going offensively this season, as he's 0-for-14 with four strikeouts so far. The Rangers will look for Duran to get his bat on track with Round Rock.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
The Rangers recalled Duran from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Duran was just optioned Tuesday but is back a day later as Wyatt Langford (oblique) goes on the injured list. Duran could see some action in the outfield while Langford is shelved.
