Josh

Smith

The versatile 28-year-old will miss the final series of the season as he welcomes a new addition to his family. Donovan Solano was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock to take his place on the active roster.

Smith is starting today, and he’s planning to travel to Cleveland with the team after the game, but that could change at a moment’s notice. Ezequiel Duran would likely start at shortstop if Smith departs.

Smith didn’t show any lingering effects from an elbow infection that kept him out of the lineup earlier this week when he connected for a fourth-inning solo shot against Twins starter Taj Bradley. It was his 10th long ball of the season and first time leaving the yard since July 27.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters the swelling from the infection in Smith’s elbow has subsided to the point that he’s able to return to action following a brief one-game absence. The versatile 28-year-old has been scuffling of late, batting .200 (19-for-95) with zero homers, four RBI and three steals over his last 30 games. He’s currently mired in a 2-for-22 slide over his last seven contests.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters Smith is day-to-day heading into the final handful of games in the regular season. Texas is five games back of the Astros and Guardians for the final AL Wild Card playoff berth and would need to basically run the table and get some luck over the remainder of the week to make it to October baseball.

Smith led off the game with a walk and scored on Joc Pederson’s two-run blast. He also smacked an RBI double in the fifth inning that increased the Rangers’ lead to 4-0 and scored on an RBI double off the bat of Pederson. For the season, the versatile 28-year-old is now hitting .257/.337/.379 with nine homers, 33 RBI and nine stolen bases.

With Corey Seager landing on the injured list after undergoing an appendectomy on Thursday, Moore will get a chance to show the Rangers what he can do at the big league level. He’s expected to see the bulk of his action at second base for the Rangers with Josh Smith sliding over to shortstop to cover for Seager.

Wyatt Langford is leading off. Smith hadn’t hit anywhere other than first against a right-hander since May 26, when he hit second. He hadn’t batted outside the top three against a right-hander since way back on April 8. He’s losing the spot now because he’s hit just .174/.240/.232 in 76 plate appearances since July 30.

It might be time for the Rangers to give Evan Carter a try at the top of the order. Smith has had a fine season, but he is currently in an 11-for-63 skid that’s dropped him down to .261/.338/.391 for the year.

There wasn’t a ton of reason for optimism after Jung missed four consecutive games due to a lingering calf issue, but he’s back in there for Monday’s showdown at Globe Life Field. It’ll be Josh Smith at the hot corner once again, but the Rangers will have Jung’s bat back in the lineup to face Yankees lefty Max Fried.