The Texas Rangers are giving Corey Seager a planned day off Sunday, with the star shortstop out of the lineup for the series finale against the Athletics.
Seager has played nine consecutive games, and the Rangers are using Sunday to manage his workload as they continue a tight American League postseason race. Ezequiel Duran will take over at shortstop and bat second against Athletics left-hander Jacob Lopez.
The decision comes one day after Seager went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Texas' 5-3 comeback victory over the Athletics. The win snapped the Rangers' four-game losing streak and moved them back into the final American League Wild Card position.
Seager's rest also comes against the backdrop of an injury-interrupted season. The veteran has dealt with multiple physical setbacks, making regular maintenance important with the Rangers entering the final weeks of the regular season.
Through 65 games, Seager is batting .203 with a .307 on-base percentage and .390 slugging percentage. He has 12 home runs and 30 RBIs, giving Texas an important offensive presence even during a difficult individual season.
Duran provides the Rangers with a familiar utility option while Seager gets a chance to recover. His move to shortstop also gives Texas a right-handed bat against Lopez, who is scheduled to start for the Athletics.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Texas enters Sunday's game at 61-63 and sits second in the AL West, 2 games behind the Houston Astros. The Rangers are also trying to maintain their position in the crowded Wild Card race.
Saturday's comeback provided a needed boost, but Sunday's lineup decision shows the Rangers are also thinking beyond one game. Keeping Seager healthy and available for the stretch run remains more important than adding another regular-season start to his workload.
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