Taveras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Rockies.
Taveras has three multi-hit efforts in May and is hitting .333 (12-for-36) over 10 contests this month. He has two homers and two steals over his last four games. The outfielder is up to a .256/.329/.395 slash line, three long balls, four steals, 10 RBI, 20 runs scored, seven doubles and a triple through 38 games this season. While Taveras is stuck at the bottom of the Rangers' order, he is enjoying a near-everyday role as a switch hitter.
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Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Strikes out eight Saturday
Rotowire
Heaney allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out eight without walking a batter over five-plus innings, taking a no-decision Saturday versus the Rockies.
Heaney gave up a solo home run to Hunter Goodman in the third inning, and a second run was tacked onto his line when Jose Leclerc balked in a run in the sixth. This was another solid start for Heaney -- the eight strikeouts were a season high, and he issued zero walks for the fourth start in a row. He's at a 4.39 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 39:9 K:BB through 41 innings across eight starts this season, but he remains in search of his first win. Heaney is projected to make his next start at home in a favorable matchup with the Angels.
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Rangers' Evan Carter: Dealing with stiff back
Rotowire
Carter is sitting Saturday against the Rockies due to lower-back stiffness, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Carter has had a history of lower-back issues, so the Rangers are acting cautiously, per Grant. Travis Jankowski is getting the start in left field and batting seventh.
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Rangers' Evan Carter: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Carter is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies.
Despite the Rockies sending out right-hander Ryan Feltner, the lefty-hitting Carter will begin Saturday's contest in the dugout. Carter has gone 7-for-34 with five runs and four RBI while posting a 35.1 percent strikeout rate in May. Travis Jankowski will start in left field and bat seventh.
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Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Makes third straight start
Rotowire
Duran started in left field and went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Friday's 4-2 loss to Colorado.
Duran made a third consecutive start and has hit in all three, going 6-for-10 with one RBI and three runs scored. He's started in left field and third base during the three-start run, and there will be plenty of opportunities at each position with Wyatt Langford (hamstring) and Josh Jung (wrist) on the injured list. Neither is due back until the end of the month at the earliest.
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Rangers' Corey Seager: Homers in loss
Rotowire
Seager went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Friday's 4-2 loss the Rockies.
Seager launched a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning then walked with the bases loaded an inning later. He struggled through the first five weeks of the season -- perhaps attributable to missing much of spring training after undergoing hernia surgery in January -- and his batting average was .219 as of May 2. Since then, Seager has hit safely in six of seven games, going 9-for-28 (.321) with two home runs and seven RBI.
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Rangers' Max Scherzer: Receives cortisone injection
Rotowire
Scherzer (back) revealed Friday that he received a cortisone injection in his right thumb after undergoing additional tests Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The exam revealed that Scherzer's thumb issue is more nerve-related than skeletal, and the right-hander noticed significant improvement following the injection. Scherzer noted that he passed multiple strength tests that would have indicated a ligament issue, and his rehab plan has changed accordingly. The 39-year-old was on the field Friday playing catch for the first time since having his program delayed due to issues with his right thumb and forearm.
Gray did not factor into the decision Friday against the Rockies, allowing one run on eight hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out seven.
Gray collected a quality start in his return to Coors Field after departing Colorado in free agency following the 2021 season. The Texas right-hander racked up his third consecutive QS, firing a 1.71 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 17:1 K:BB in 21 innings over that span. Gray is slated to make his next start at home against Cleveland.
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Rangers' Peter Solomon: Latches on with Rangers
Rotowire
Solomon signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Solomon allowed 18 earned runs in just 13.1 innings with the Diamondbacks last season, and he wasn't too successful in Triple-A either (10.00 ERA through 54 innings). He'll now attempt to get back on track in the Rangers' farm system, but a drastic turnaround would be necessary for the team to even consider adding the 27-year-old righty to its big-league staff.
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Rangers' Chasen Shreve: Back with Texas on minors deal
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Shreve signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Shreve was released by the Rangers last Wednesday despite posting a 2.70 ERA and 0.80 WHIP through 10 innings at Triple-A Round Rock, but he was unable to secure a deal elsewhere that offered a clearer path to the majors. The 33-year-old southpaw will remain at Round Rock, but he could get promoted to the big-league roster later in the season if he continues thriving in the minors.
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Rangers' Grant Anderson: Recalled from Round Rock
Rotowire
The Rangers recalled Anderson from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
Anderson will join Texas' bullpen as a replacement for Josh Sborz (shoulder), who landed on the 15-day injured list Thursday. Anderson has appeared in four games for the Rangers this season, allowing four earned runs across three innings while striking out five batters and walking none. He will likely be limited to low-leverage situations while in the big leagues.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Heads back to minors
Rotowire
The Rangers optioned Leiter to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Leiter was up as the 27th man during Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Athletics and got rocked for six runs (four earned) over four innings. Because he was the designated 27th man, the 15-day rule doesn't apply to Leiter, so he'll remain an option to make a start next week versus the Guardians.
The Rangers placed Sborz on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right rotator cuff strain.
This marks the second time already this season that Sborz has had to spend time on the injured list due to a strained rotator cuff. His first IL stint lasted roughly two-and-a-half weeks, though it's possible the Rangers bring him back slower this time around to minimize the risk of re-injury. A corresponding move will be made ahead of Friday's game against the Rockies.
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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' Jonah Heim: Drives in four in twin bill
Rotowire
Heim went 2-for-7 with a walk, two runs scored and four RBI across both games of Wednesday's doubleheader split with the A's.
After going 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly as the DH in the matinee, Heim moved behind the plate for the nightcap and drove in three more runs. The 28-year-old catcher has four multi-hit performances in his last seven games, a surge that has boosted his slash line on the season to .300/.341/.425 with four homers, 18 runs and 26 RBI through 33 contests.
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Rangers' Kirby Yates: Notches seventh save
Rotowire
Yates gave up a run on two hits and a walk while striking out one in the ninth inning during the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the A's, recording his seventh save of the season in a 12-11 win.
It didn't seem like the Rangers would need their closer when they took a 12-7 lead into the final frame, but after Owen White gave up three straight singles to load the bases without getting an out, Yates was pressed into duty. The right-hander wound up allowing all three inherited runners to score, plus one of his own, before finally escaping the jam. It was the first run Yates had given up all season, and he sports a 0.56 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB through 16 innings without blowing a save.
