Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Could move into platoon role
Duran is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies.
He'll bow out of the starting nine for the second time in three games with the Rangers opposing a right-handed starting pitcher (Kyle Gibson), and Duran's time as an everyday player could be over now that fellow rookie Josh H. Smith (shoulder) is back from the 10-day injured list. Since Smith hits from the left side of the plate, he could end up filling the strong side of a platoon at third base while Duran makes most of his starts at the position versus left-handed pitching. Duran has experience at second base and shortstop, too, but big-ticket offseason pickups Marcus Semien and Corey Seager won't get too many days off when both are healthy. Designated hitter doesn't look like a viable path to playing time either for Duran, as Mitch Garver (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19-related injured list Tuesday and should be a fixture at that spot in the lineup moving forward.
