Rangers Notes: Smith, Scherzer, Sborz

Rangers utility man Josh Smith has been one of many membership’s most potent offensive gamers this 12 months, slashing a superb .294/.384/.436 in 243 journeys to the plate whereas primarily splitting time between third base and shortstop. That efficiency has been good for a superb wRC+ of 137, though Smith’s elevated .358 BABIP and comparatively pedestrian .311 xwOBA each point out there could also be some luck baked into these outcomes.

Nevertheless fortunate Smith’s outcomes could also be, it seems that he’s earned himself extra taking part in time going ahead. Whereas Smith has discovered himself sidelined in current days, supervisor Bruce Bochy advised reporters (together with Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News) that Smith has been coping with “normal tightness” however that he’s performed himself into an everyday function with the membership when wholesome. It’s pretty straightforward to see why the membership would commit extra taking part in time to Smith going ahead, as nicely. In any case, that aforementioned 137 wRC+ is ten factors forward of shortstop Corey Seager for the crew lead.

What maybe makes issues somewhat bit extra difficult for Smith is that third baseman Josh Jung is on the verge of a rehab project and figures to get common at-bats of his personal upon returning to the lineup. With Jung and Seager set to play nearly day by day on the left facet of the infield, Smith’s most typical positions determine to not be accessible to him. Even so, there’s loads of room for enchancment in a Rangers lineup that ranks simply twenty third within the majors with a 93 wRC+ this 12 months. Smith has some expertise within the outfield, and all 4 of Evan Carter, Wyatt Langford, Adolis Garcia, and Leody Taveras have underperformed to various levels this 12 months on the plate. That ought to make it pretty easy to work Smith into the outfield and DH combine regularly, although Grant additionally means that Smith might take some reps at first base over Nathaniel Lowe.

In different Rangers information, veteran ace Max Scherzer threw 79 pitched for Triple-A Spherical Rock final evening, hanging out eight batters whereas permitting three runs throughout 4 2/3 innings of labor. Bochy indicated to reporters (together with Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com) previous to Scherzer’s begin that it could possibly be his remaining rehab look earlier than returning to the majors if all went nicely. Barring some type of setback for Scherzer within the aftermath of final evening’s begin, it seems he could possibly be again within the Rangers rotation later this week.

The veteran right-hander’s return to the majors ought to provide an enormous enhance to a Texas membership that has handled plenty of accidents of their beginning rotation this 12 months. Jacob deGrom, Tyler Mahle, and Cody Bradford are all at present on the 60-day IL alongside Scherzer, and the membership has additionally hung out with out every of Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Dane Dunning, and Michael Lorenzen as a result of damage this season. Left-hander Andrew Heaney started the marketing campaign within the bullpen however was nearly instantly moved into the rotation as a result of accidents; upon Scherzer’s return, he and Lorenzen seem like the probably candidates to affix fellow swing man Jose Urena within the membership’s reduction corps.

Whereas Scherzer seems to be wrapping up his rehab project, one other hurler is on the verge of starting a rehab project of his personal: right-hander Josh Sborz, who has been sidelined since April by a rotator cuff pressure. As famous on MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, Sborz is ready to start a rehab project with Spherical Rock at present. If the righty is nearing a return to the bullpen, he might present a shot within the arm for a Rangers bullpen that ranks sixth from the underside amongst all main league golf equipment.

Sborz had a 1.69 ERA and a couple of.96 FIP in seven appearances previous to his placement on the IL this 12 months, and whereas the righty struggled to a 5.50 ERA in 2023, a lot of that was as a result of an unbelievably low 56.2% strand charge. Sborz’s 30.7% strikeout charge, 3.75 FIP, 3.35 xERA, and three.05 SIERA all level to the righty’s capability to be an impactful reduction arm for the Rangers. Texas is at present counting on a mixture of Kirby Yates, David Robertson, and Jose Leclerc within the late innings.