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Cody Freeman Cody Freeman Activated, optioned to Round Rock
Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:00 PM
The Rangers reinstated Freeman (back) from the injured list Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Round Rock.
Analysis: Freeman has been sidelined by a lower-back fracture since spring training but began playing in rehab games May 14. Since then, he's slashed .161/.194/.194 with five RBI and eight runs scored over nine games between the Arizona Complex League, Double-A and Triple-A. He'll stay put at Round Rock now that he's been given a clean bill of health, and he'll likely need to turn things around offensively before the Rangers begin to consider adding him to their major-league roster. |
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Nicky Lopez Nicky Lopez Second straight start
Thu, May 28, 2026, 3:08 PM
Lopez will start at second base and bat ninth in Thursday's contest versus the Astros.
Analysis: Lopez was signed to a major-league contract Wednesday and has now made two straight starts at second base (both against righties). The 31-year-old has slashed only .227/.298/.280 in more than 1,200 plate appearances at the major-league level since 2022, but he's got a steady glove and the Rangers are opting for defense over offense at the keystone. |
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Justin Foscue Justin Foscue Sits again in favor of Lopez
Thu, May 28, 2026, 3:04 PM
Foscue is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Astros.
Analysis: After making 11 straight starts at second base, Foscue has now sat in favor of Nicky Lopez two days in a row. Foscue is in a mini slump, having gone just 1-for-16 over his last five games, and Lopez offers the superior glove at the keystone. |
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Ezequiel Duran Ezequiel Duran Back in action Thursday
Thu, May 28, 2026, 3:01 PM
Duran (illness) will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Thursday's game versus the Astros.
Analysis: Duran had to be removed from Wednesday's contest due to illness, but he will not have to miss any starts. He's been serving as the Rangers' primary shortstop since Corey Seager went down with a back injury in mid-May. |
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Ezequiel Duran Ezequiel Duran Battling illness
Wed, May 27, 2026, 8:31 PM
Duran was removed from Wednesday's game against the Astros due to an illness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Duran went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before he began to feel under the weather. He could be held out for another day or two while he recovers, which would leave Nicky Lopez as the next man up to start at shortstop for Texas. |
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Justin Foscue Justin Foscue Exiting starting lineup
Wed, May 27, 2026, 3:52 PM
Foscue is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Astros.
Analysis: Foscue had made 11 consecutive starts at second base, but he will begin Wednesday's festivities on the bench. Newcomer Nicky Lopez will draw the start at the keystone for the Rangers. |
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Nicky Lopez Nicky Lopez Finds work with Texas
Wed, May 27, 2026, 3:26 PM
Lopez signed a one-year contract with the Rangers on Wednesday.
Analysis: Lopez elected free agency earlier this week after being waived by the Cubs and quickly reached an agreement with the Rockies on a minor-league deal, but he never finalized the contract with Colorado before the big-league opportunity with Texas became available. Though he'll enter the lineup right away for the Rangers as their starting second baseman and No. 9 hitter in Wednesday's game against the Astros, he's unlikely to see consistent at-bats with Texas. Instead, Lopez is expected to provide most of his value as a late-inning defensive replacement who's capable of covering three infield positions. |
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Andrew McCutchen Andrew McCutchen DFA'd by Texas
Wed, May 27, 2026, 3:18 PM
The Rangers designated McCutchen for assignment Wednesday.
Analysis: McCutchen will give up his spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster to infielder Nicky Lopez, whom the Rangers signed to a one-year contract. After joining Texas late in spring training on a minor-league deal, the 39-year-old McCutchen was able to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster but proceeded to hit just .192/.277/.260 with a career-worst 26.5 percent strikeout rate in 83 plate appearances. Given McCutchen's struggles with Texas this season along with the fact that he's best suited as a designated hitter rather than a corner outfielder at this stage of his career, the five-time All-Star may not be able to find another opportunity at the big-league level. |
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Ezequiel Duran Ezequiel Duran Back at shortstop
Wed, May 27, 2026, 7:07 AM
Duran started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 10-7 win over Houston.
Analysis: Duran spent the last two games at third base but returned to shortstop with Josh Jung returning to the hot corner Tuesday. The versatile Duran is getting steady work as a replacement for injured infielders and will continue on as the shortstop until Corey Seager (back) is ready to return. Duran has been rolling the last week, going 10-for-30 with one home run and 11 RBI over the last eight contests. |
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Josh Jung Josh Jung Returns to action
Wed, May 27, 2026, 6:58 AM
Jung went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 10-7 win over the Astros.
Analysis: Jung was back in the lineup and the middle of the order after missing two games due to a sore left shoulder. The third baseman opened the season in the lower third of the order following a disappointing 2025, but a resurgence that began in late April has moved him to the upper half and often to the Rangers' cleanup spot. Jung is slashing .303/.360/.459 over 49 games. |
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Jacob Latz Jacob Latz Notches sixth save
Tue, May 26, 2026, 11:28 PM
Latz earned a save against the Astros on Tuesday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out two batters over 1.1 innings.
Analysis: Texas jumped out to an 8-0 lead after one inning, but Houston managed to close the deficit to three runs with two outs in the eighth. Latz was brought in with a runner on second in that frame and struck out Brice Matthews to finish the inning. He then gave up a solo homer to Jeremy Pena in the ninth, but the Astros weren't able to get any closer. Latz's save was his first in two weeks and just his third appearance over that span. With that said, no Texas pitcher picked up a save during those two weeks, and Latz remains the leading candidate for saves moving forward. |
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Jack Leiter Jack Leiter Pitches well enough to win
Tue, May 26, 2026, 11:21 PM
Leiter (2-4) earned the win over Houston on Tuesday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters over six innings.
Analysis: Leiter had an 8-0 lead to work with after one inning, and though he didn't dominate, the right-hander did more than enough to finish with a victory for the first time since his initial start of the campaign. Leiter threw 60 of 95 pitches for strikes and notched 12 whiffs. The 26-year-old isn't setting the world on fire with a 4.75 ERA and 1.37 WHIP through 60.2 innings, but he's been giving the Rangers length of late by completing six frames four times over his past six starts. Leiter is projected to next take the mound this weekend versus Kansas City. |
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Danny Jansen Danny Jansen Resting up Tuesday
Tue, May 26, 2026, 6:50 PM
Jansen is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Astros.
Analysis: The Rangers will give Jansen a breather after he started behind the plate both of the previous two nights. Kyle Higashioka will step in behind the plate, forming a battery with starting pitcher Jack Leiter. |
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Josh Jung Josh Jung Checking back into starting nine
Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:44 PM
Jung (shoulder) will start at third base and bat cleanup in Tuesday's game against the Astros.
Analysis: After getting the last two games off to recover from the sore left shoulder that knocked him out of Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Angels, Jung made enough progress in his recovery to reclaim his usual spot in the starting nine Tuesday. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, Jung has posted a career-best .819 OPS over 199 plate appearances to begin the current season. |
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Kumar Rocker Kumar Rocker Allows four runs in fifth loss
Mon, May 25, 2026, 9:58 PM
Rocker (2-5) took the loss Monday, allowing four runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batsman over five innings against the Astros. He struck out five.
Analysis: After working behind an opener and turning in 7.2 shutout innings his last time out, Rocker started Monday's contest and was considerably less effective. The right-hander allowed a run in the first inning, worked through a pair of scoreless frames, then surrendered three more runs between the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by a Yordan Alvarez solo shot. Rocker will carry a 3.96 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 42:22 K:BB across 50 innings (10 appearances) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Saturday against the Royals. |
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Josh Smith Josh Smith Timeline for activities unclear
Mon, May 25, 2026, 4:19 PM
Smith (illness) is expected to return to Globe Life Field this week, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to ramp up his baseball activities, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Analysis: Smith was first sidelined with a right glute strain and then a wrist problem, but more recently he was diagnosed with viral meningitis. He was in the hospital for several days with the illness but is now on the mend. However, it could be several weeks before Smith is ready to return to the Rangers' active roster. |
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Wyatt Langford Wyatt Langford Could begin rehab assignment soon
Mon, May 25, 2026, 2:56 PM
Langford (forearm) will take batting practice Monday and could begin a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Langford encountered a setback with his right forearm injury during an extended spring training game in late April but has been making steady progress lately. If he is able to begin a rehab assignment this weekend as hoped, Langford could be ready to return from the 10-day injured list in early June. |
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Josh Jung Josh Jung Held out again Monday
Mon, May 25, 2026, 2:09 PM
Jung (shoulder) remains out of the lineup for Monday's contest against the Astros.
Analysis: Jung had to be removed from Saturday's game against the Angels because of left shoulder soreness and has now missed two straight starts. Per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, an MRI on Jung's shoulder came back negative. He could return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday, though it's not a given. Ezequiel Duran will grab another start at third base in Jung's stead. |
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Michael Helman Michael Helman Starts at shortstop
Sun, May 24, 2026, 10:43 PM
Helman batted ninth and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Angels.
Analysis: The Rangers are coping with three infield injuries, which provides an opportunity for Helman, who filled in for shortstop Corey Seager (back, IL). Ezequiel Duran had been defending shortstop, but he was moved to third base with Josh Jung (shoulder) unavailable. Second baseman Josh Smith (lower body/wrist/illness) is also sidelined, and Justin Foscue has been the primary fill-in there. Helman has experience at all three positions. |
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Jake Burger Jake Burger Blasts 10th homer
Sun, May 24, 2026, 10:25 PM
Burger went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Angels.
Analysis: Burger was the lone source of offense for the Rangers, crushing a solo homer to center field in the second inning. It marked the first baseman's 10th homer of the campaign and third long ball across his past 10 contests, as the 30-year-old has begun to settle into a groove at the plate. Overall, Burger is hitting .241 with a .731 OPS, 34 RBI, 23 runs and a stolen base across 50 games. |
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