JOSH SMITH NEWS

Starts second straight game Smith started at third base and went 1-for-4 in Friday's 2-1 win over San Francisco.

Impact Smith made a second straight start at the hot corner, as the Rangers navigate life without rookie third baseman Josh Jung (thumb). He'll be out until some point in September after undergoing thumb surgery this week. Ezequiel Duran and Smith are sharing third base until Jung becomes available. While Duran's season numbers trump Smith's by a wide margin, the former has slumped since the All-Star break with a .162 average and .524 OPS.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starts at short Smith started at shortstop and went 1-for-2 with a walk in Saturday's 4-0 loss to San Diego.

Impact The seldom-used Smith made his third start in the last six games. He replaced Ezequiel Duran, who is the primary fill-in at shortstop for the injured Corey Seager (thumb). With Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reporting that Seager could starting swinging a bat Monday or Tuesday, Smith's path to plate appearances could dry up this week.

JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in loss Smith started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a walk, a home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 10-9 loss to Houston.

Impact Smith's fourth-inning solo shot was his first in 23 games and his fourth of the season. The seldom-used utility player made a second consecutive start, as the Rangers deal with injuries to Corey Seager (thumb) and Adolis Garcia (hand).

JULY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets rare start Smith started at third base and went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's 8-3 win over Detroit.

Impact Smith gave Josh Jung a breather at third and was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning after two plate appearances. Wednesday's start was his first in 12 days.

JUNE 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Opportunities dwindling Smith, who last started a game June 15, has made nine plate appearances during the month of June.

Impact Smith made 65 plate appearances in April then 47 in May before seeing his opportunities dwindle in June. With shortstop Corey Seager back from injury and Ezequiel Duran taking hold as the primary left fielder, Smith has been limited to an occasional start, or pinch role -- runner or hitter -- or as a fill-in for an injury.

JUNE 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits against lefty Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.

Impact With southpaw Matthew Boyd on the bump for Detroit, Smith and fellow lefty hitter Travis Jankowski will both head to the bench while the righty-hitting Bubba Thompson picks up a start in left field. While Ezequiel Duran (oblique) is on the shelf, Smith and Jankowski will likely be jockeying for one spot in Texas' everyday lineup versus right-handed pitching.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Sunday Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Impact Though Smith is on the bench Sunday, he could be an option to claim a near-everyday spot in the lineup against right-handed pitching after Ezequiel Duran (oblique) was moved to the 10-day injured list Saturday. Outfielder Travis Jankowski (hamstring) -- who was activated from the IL in a corresponding move -- will take Duran's spot in the lineup Sunday, but Smith had filled in for Duran in left field in both of the previous two contests.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Clubs homer Smith hit a solo home run in his only at-bat in Sunday's 13-3 win over the Rockies.

Impact Smith served as a defensive replacement for Marcus Semien at second base in the blowout win. In his lone at-bat, Smith took Alan Trejo deep in the eighth inning. With the return of Corey Seager, there's no longer a clear path to playing time for Smith, so he's returned to a utility role. The 25-year-old is slashing .222/.385/.389 with three homers, four RBI, 14 runs scored, a stolen base and three doubles through 92 plate appearances.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rejoins lineup Monday Smith (foot) will serve as the Rangers' designated hitter and No. 8 batter in Monday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Smith is back in action after a sore left foot prompted his early exit from Saturday's 5-0 win over the Athletics and then resulted in him sitting out Sunday in the 11-3 victory in the series finale. When healthy, Smith has started in five of the Rangers' last six games, but his run as a regular in the Texas lineup will likely come to an end when shortstop Corey Seager (hamstring) is activated from the injured list at some point later this week.

MAY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

X-rays negative X-rays on Smith's foot came back negative.

Impact Smith was hit on the left foot Saturday and was removed from the game. Texas manager Bruce Bochy said the player was "pretty banged up," and he was held out of Sunday's series finale against the Athletics. Smith will continue to undergo evaluation.

MAY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out Sunday with sore foot Smith (foot) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Impact After Travis Jankowski (hamstring) hit the injured list Tuesday, Smith resurfaced as a regular in the lineup against right-handed pitching, starting in four of the Rangers' past five games. Though Smith went 5-for-10 with three doubles over that stretch of action to build a strong case for continuing to earn ample playing time, he's now day-to-day with an injury of his own. Even if Smith avoids the IL, he could soon find himself on the outs for a regular lineup spot with Corey Seager (hamstring) likely on track to return from the shelf during the upcoming week.

MAY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Leaves with left foot soreness Smith left Saturday's game against the Athletics with left foot soreness. X-rays returned negative and he'll continue to be evaluated.

Impact Smith was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning and was unable to continue. The outfielder should be considered day-to-day and likely will get a chance to rest for Sunday's series finale against the Athletics.

MAY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Stays in lineup Smith started at designated hitter and went 2-for-4 with a double in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Seattle.

Impact Smith made a second consecutive after a two-hit effort Tuesday, when he started in left field. At-bats had been dwindling for Smith, whose last start came April 27 before getting into lineup on consecutive days this week. With Travis Jankowski (hamstring) on the IL, Smith could become a regular whenever there is righty on the mound. The super-utility fielder has hit in three straight games, going 5-for-10 with two doubles, one home run, two RBI and a stolen base.

MAY 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starts in left field Smith started in left field and went 2-for-3 with a double in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to Seattle.

Impact The Rangers placed their primary left fielder Travis Jankowski (hamstring) on the injured list Tuesday, which opened a lane to at-bats for Smith and Robbie Grossman. Smith had been part of the fill-in solution at shortstop while Corey Seager (hamstring) works his way back, but the suddenly hot Ezequiel Duran took over as the primary substitute there.

MAY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Strong off bench Sunday Smith went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Sunday's 16-8 win over the Angels.

Impact Travis Jankowski (hamstring) left the game in the second inning, and Smith filled in admirably. The homer was Smith's second of the season, and it put the Rangers ahead 7-3. This was the utility man's first game action in May after he played semi-regularly in April. He's slashing .154/.353/.269 with three RBI, 11 runs scored and one steal through 69 plate appearances. If Jankowski ends up on the injured list, Smith could be a strong-side platoon option in left field.

MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting third straight game Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Impact It's the third consecutive game on the bench for the 25-year-old, as Ezequiel Duran appears to have taken hold of the starting job at shortstop with Corey Seager (hamstring) on the shelf. Smith saw most of his action in the first couple weeks of the season in left field, but Travis Jankowski and Bubba Thompson have recently been splitting time at that position.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Saturday Smith is not in the lineup Saturday against the Yankees.

Impact Smith has been a versatile defender out of the gate for the Rangers, but he is just 7-for-48 (.146) with one extra-base hit through 21 games.

APRIL 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hits first homer Smith went 1-for-4 with a home run in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to Cincinnati.

Impact Smith extended Texas' lead to 6-0 in the sixth inning with a solo homer off Luke Weaver, his first of the season. Smith is still slashing just .171/.382/.244 with an RBI and seven runs scored through 56 plate appearances this season. The 25-year-old Smith has been platooning with Ezequiel Duran at shortstop, though he'll likely be relegated to a bench role when Corey Seager (hamstring) is able to return.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out against lefty again Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

Impact The lefty-hitting Smith will give way to the righty-hitting Ezequiel Duran at shortstop with southpaw Nick Lodolo on the bump for Cincinnati. Smith has now been on the bench three times in four games, with all three absences coming when Texas has opposed left-handed starting pitchers.

APRIL 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits versus lefty Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Smith will step out of the lineup Sunday with southpaw Kyle Muller pitching Sunday for Oakland. Ezequiel Duran will start at shortstop while Bubba Thompson mans left field.

APRIL 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out Friday against lefty Smith isn't starting Friday's game against Oakland.

Impact Smith is 0-for-12 at the plate in his last four games, putting him at risk of losing a good amount of playing time. Ezequiel Duran will start at shortstop in Smith's place Friday and bat seventh.

APRIL 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Tuesday Smith isn't starting Tuesday against the Royals.

Impact It's been a struggle for Smith at the plate lately -- he's slashing just .067/.263/.067 over the past week. His slump will cost him another start Tuesday, with Ezequiel Duran taking over at shortstop and batting seventh.

APRIL 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits versus lefty Smith is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Impact The 25-year-old started the past three games at shortstop in the absence of Corey Seager (hamstring) but he'll take a seat Sunday after he went 1-for-10 with five strikeouts during that stretch. Ezequiel Duran will take over at shortstop with lefty Framber Valdez pitching for Houston.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Makes costly error Smith went 1-for-3 and was hit by a pitch in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Astros.

Impact Smith, who made a third consecutive start at shortstop in place of the injured Corey Seager (hamstring), made a costly error in the seventh inning on a potential double-play grounder. The miscue allowed two runs to score and extended the inning for Houston to tack on another two runs. The lefty-batting Smith may give way to Ezequiel Duran in Sunday's series finale when the Astros are scheduled to start southpaw Framber Valdez.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starts at short again Smith started at shortstop and went 0-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt in Friday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

Impact Smith started once again for the injured Corey Seager (hamstring), slotting in at second in the order. That was Seager's spot in the order, and it appears Texas manager Bruce Bochy wants to limit disruption to the normal batting order. Smith is not expected to replace Seager's production, but he does handle the bat well, as evidenced by his fifth-inning bunt that moved runners and set up Nathaniel Lowe's two-run single. With Houston scheduled to start another righty Saturday, Smith should make a third straight start. The righty-hitting Ezequiel Duran could start at shortstop Sunday, when the Astros' Framber Valdez is projected to start, the Rangers' first game against a southpaw since Seager's injury.

APRIL 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE