Josh Hamilton skipped a workout yesterday at the request of Rangers manager Ron Washington in order to rest a left groin strain which has bothered him for a couple of months now. However, Washington told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that he has no intention to make any changes to his lineup.
“He’s playing the outfield,” Washington said. “I read where people wanted me to put him on the bench. They wanted him on the bench, out [of] the lineup. We’ve got five games left. I’m playing Josh. I’m not changing anything.”
Hamilton, who delivered a game-tying sacrifice fly in Thursday’s Game 2 win, is batting .250/.264/.354 over 48 at-bats this postseason, but hasn’t homered since September 23. With right-hander Kyle Lohse on the mound for the Cardinals in Game 3, look for Hamilton to slide over to center field and David Murphy to return to the lineup in left.
