Josh

Smith

Smith turned on an Emerson Hancock offering to pull it into the right-field stands to tie the game at 2-2. The 27-year-old has gone deep 13 times in a solid — if unspectacular — season where he’s slashed .262/.342/.398. It will be interesting to see what kind of role Smith will have in 2025 with Texas. Seems like a possible trade candidate considering their current roster structure.

It’s a rare off day for Langford, who has been scuffling at the plate in recent weeks, batting .189 (21-for-111) with two homers and four steals over his last 30 games. It’ll be Josh Smith taking over in left field on Tuesday night to face Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller.

The Rangers had Robbie Grossman hit for Smith against a lefty reliever in the seventh, even though Smith has actually hit lefties better than righties this season. Smith was 0-for-3 tonight, leaving him at .200/.259/.295 in 26 games during the second half. The Rangers will likely stick with him as a regular, but they should drop him from the third spot in their lineup.

It looks to be a routine off day for Seager following an extra-inning marathon at Fenway Park followed by a cross-country flight back to Arlington. It’ll be Josh Smith handling shortstop on Thursday evening against the Twins.

Smith’s home run was his 12th of the year. He hit a game-winning walkoff home run off Caleb Ferguson in the 10th inning. Smith is hitting .278 with an .811 OPS and 48 RBI on the year.

Smith is leading off, while Semien is batting third. Quite a day of change for the Rangers, who also made a trade and 11 transactions in all. The lineup switch is just a further shakeup. Semien is hitting .293/.390/.488 this month, so a lack of production isn’t an issue here.

Smith’s home run was a 404-foot shot at 101.8 mph for his 11th of the season. His steal was also his seventh of the year to go along with a .282/.379/.452 slash line. The 26-year-old is enjoying a breakout season and has single-handedly won the 2021 trade that sent Joey Gallo to the Yankees for Smith, Ezequiel Duran, 2B/OF Trevor Hauver, and RHP Glenn Otto. The Rangers will find a way to keep him in the lineup even when Josh Jung returns.

Smith singled in the first inning and was moved to third on an RBI single by Adolis Garcia. He and Garcia would later attempt a successful double steal with two outs, with Garcia swiping second and Smith coming in to score. Smith’s two-hit night was much needed. He entered the day with no hits in his last 14 at-bats, but will hopefully round back into form after a strong night at the dish.

Smith was the Rangers’ offense in this one. His first inning home run produced their only runs, only hard-hit ball, and one of just two hits in total off Astros’ starter Ronel Blanco. Then his eighth inning long ball gave Texas their only insurance. Smith has been one of the surprise performers of the first half with 10 homers, five stolen bases, and an .861 OPS.

Statcast still thinks Smith’s success is a mirage, but he’s been a big reason the Rangers are still in the race at all this season. He’s batting .296/.384/.457 in 322 plate appearances, and there’s little doubt he’ll keep playing regularly after Josh Jung returns.