Smith is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Rockies.
The lefty-hitting Smith went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Saturday's 8-3 loss. He will begin Sunday's contest on the bench as the Rockies send out southpaw Ty Blach. Ezequiel Duran will fill in for Smith at third base.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Swipes first bag
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the A's.
After going 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter in a 9-4 loss during the matinee, Smith got the start at shortstop in the nightcap and swiped his first bag of the year in a wild 12-11 victory. The 26-year-old infielder has been productive of late, slashing .297/.422/.541 over the last 12 games with a homer, five RBI and nine runs, but his 6:14 BB:K during that stretch -- not to mention his .373 BABIP on the season -- suggests regression is coming for his batting average. Until Josh Jung (wrist) is back in the lineup though, Smith should continue to see regular playing time.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sitting in early game Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Athletics.
The lefty-hitting Smith will hit the bench for the first game of the twin bill while the Athletics bring southpaw JP Sears to the hill. Davis Wendzel will fill in for Smith at third base.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Goes deep Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and scored twice during Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Nationals.
Smith's second-inning single and sixth-inning solo shot give the 26-year-old infielder his third multi-hit game in his last five contests. He is 7-for-14 two homers, three RBI and three runs scored during that stretch and now boats an impressive .917 OPS on the season while filling in as Josh Jung's (wrist) replacement.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Not in Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Reds.
Smith has been surprisingly productive this season with an .852 OPS through 27 games, but he'll take a seat for Sunday's contest. Davis Wendzel will step in at the hot corner and bat seventh.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Homers in loss
Rotowire
Smith started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 loss to Seattle.
Smith launched his first homer of the season in the fourth inning, which tied the game momentarily before the Mariners plated two a half-inning later. He got the start at shortstop while primary starter Corey Seager served as DH a day after he left a game with a bruised shin. If Seager is limited to DH for a bit, Smith will be the primary fill-in at short. If Seager is ready for a defensive role, then Smith will go back to sharing third base with Ezequiel Duran. Smith is batting .292/.393/.417 over 84 plate appearances, much better than his previous two MLB seasons.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Delivers game-winning run
Rotowire
Smith entered Wednesday's game as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth inning and went 1-for-1 with a double and an RBI in a 5-4 win over Detroit.
Smith, who was held out of the starting lineup against a left-hander, got the call to pinch hit with runners on against righty Shelby Miller and delivered the game-deciding run. It's not surprising that Smith came through, as he's gone 7-for-13 with 10 RBI with runners in scoring position in 2024. He's performed better than expected in a fill-in role while Josh Jung (thumb) is unavailable, slashing .319/.418/.404 over 55 plate appearances. Seasoned fantasy managers should be aware Smith's .366 BABIP indicates a correction is coming. Over two previous MLB seasons, he slashed .191/.306/.287.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Out against left-hander
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Detroit.
Southpaw Tarik Skubal will toe the rubber for the Tigers, so the left-handed-hitting Smith will take a seat. Davis Wendzel will handle third-base duties for the Rangers.
Smith started at third base and went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 10-2 win over the Astros.
Smith was back at third base after filling in at shortstop Wednesday, when Corey Seager served as the designated hitter. When not giving Seager a break at short, the lefty-hitting Smith is expected to start at third base against right-handers while Josh Jung (wrist) is sidelined for the next 6-to-8 weeks. Smith has hit safely in three straight games, going 4-for-10 with a walk, two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at shortstop
Rotowire
Smith started at shortstop and went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Rays.
Smith filled in for Corey Seager, who served as the designated hitter Wednesday. Smith is also expected to get starts at third base while Josh Jung (wrist) takes 8-to-10 weeks to recover following surgery.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at third base
Rotowire
Smith started at third base and went 1-for-2 in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Rays.
Smith made the first start at third base following the wrist injury suffered by Josh Jung during Monday's contest. Jung underwent surgery and is estimated to be out at least six weeks. With righty Zach Eflin on the mound for Tampa Bay, manager Bruce Bochy had the lefty-hitting Smith open the game, but the manager later had Ezequiel Duran pinch hit against lefty reliever Colin Poche and finish the game at third base. That suggests a platoon may be in the offing while Jung rehabs; however, Justin Foscue could enter the mix. He was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday and played 35 games at third base in 2023.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Fills in at third base
Rotowire
Smith walked and drove in a run after he replaced an injured Josh Jung (wrist) at third base in Monday's 9-3 win over the Rays.
Smith finished out an at-bat for Jung, who was hit on the wrist by a pitch in the ninth inning. Smith's free pass came with the bases loaded and forced in a run, and he finished out the game in the bottom half of the frame. The Rangers will discuss how they want to handle Jung's absence on the field and the roster Tuesday. A likely scenario involves both Smith and Ezequiel Duran holding down the hot corner, while potential utility-infield replacements at Triple-A Reno include Matt Duffy, Justin Foscue and Jonathan Ornelas.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Rejoins lineup
Rotowire
Smith (hand) is starting at shortstop and batting second in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Reds.
The 26-year-old exited Tuesday's contest after being hit by a pitch on the hand, but his return to the lineup a day later indicates it isn't a significant issue. Smith is expected to serve as a utility infielder in 2024, but he could see more action early on since Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) is likely to open on the injured list and Corey Seager's (groin) status is also up in the air.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Leaves game early
Rotowire
Smith got hit by a pitch on his hand and left Tuesday's Cactus League game against the A's, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
After getting hit by the pitch, Smith was pulled from the game, with Sebastian Walcott entering to pinch run. The shortstop is competing for a bench role, though he has minor-league options remaining. The 26-year-old now has a .231/.447/.385 slash line in 14 games this spring with four doubles and eight walks against nine strikeouts.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Will fill in at shortstop
Rotowire
Smith is expected to be the primary fill-in at shortstop this spring while Corey Seager (groin) is sidelined, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Smith and Ezequiel Duran were expected to get a ton of reps at shortstop, but third baseman Josh Jung's calf injury means Duran will cover the hot corner the next two-to-three weeks at least. Both Seager and Jung are expected to be ready for Opening Day.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Homers off bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 9-3 loss to the Angels.
Corey Seager (forearm) had to exit the game, so Smith filled in at shortstop and delivered a ninth-inning homer. The long ball was Smith's first since Sept. 4, though he's seen little playing time since Josh Jung returned from the injured list. With the Rangers still in the thick of the playoff race, Seager's potential absence looms large. Smith has hit an ugly .137 (10-for-73) since the start of August, so Ezequiel Duran, who has batted .248 in that same stretch, could be the better option to fill in at shortstop if Seager misses time.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Heads to bench in Jung's return
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.
Smith had started at third base in each of the Rangers' last four games, but he's likely to handle more of a utility role moving forward after Texas reinstated Josh Jung (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Monday. The 25-year-old is hitting just .116 in September and likely won't be in store for steady at-bats down the stretch while the Rangers look to secure a playoff spot.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Playing time ticks up
Rotowire
Smith started at third base and went 0-for-4 in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Athletics.
Smith made his fourth start in the last five games, all against right-handers. Unfortunately for Smith, it's been a squandered opportunity, as he's gone 1-for-14 in the four starts. His usage has yo-yoed all season, and with news that Josh Jung (thumb) could return next week, Smith's opportunities should dry up.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Sitting out Monday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
Smith started four straight games for the Rangers, but he reached base only four times over that span, so he will work as a reserve Monday and allow J.P. Martinez to make a fourth straight start.
