Wyatt Langford shifts to center field while Rangers still keep his health 'No. 1'
· Yahoo Sports
ANAHEIM, Calif. —The Rangers will start Wyatt Langford in center field for the first time since he returned from his hamstring strain in Monday's series opener vs. the Los Angeles Angels at Angels Stadium.
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Langford has only played left field since he was activated off the injured list July 9, but against Angeles left-handed pitcher Reid Detmers, and with a string of southpaws due up on this road trip, the Rangers shifted him into an arguably more physically intense position.
It allows them to bench center fielder Evan Carter (who's slashed .116/.208/.116 against left-handed pitchers this season) and start utility player Ezequiel Duran (who's slashed .268/.371/.402 against left-handed pitchers this season) in left field. The Rangers have taken Langford's health and propensity for soft tissue injuries into consideration this season when they've decided to play him in left field or center field, but per manager Skip Schumaker, the team's medical staff confirmed that latter is safe "once every now and then."
"Health is No. 1," Schumaker said. "If we don't have Wyatt for the next 50 games, then we're in trouble, right? So we're making sure that's good, but also, these are games that we have to win. These games are important, every game is important, so what is out best lineup? Today against Detmers, who's tough against righties and lefties, our best lineup is with him in center field."
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