PHOENIX — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker dropped Wyatt Langford to sixth in the order Saturday, three spots under Josh Jung in Jung’s first game back. Asked on Rangers Sports Network what he sees from Langford at the plate, Schumaker pointed at the standings.
“Some guys right now at this time of the year just want to help the team so bad that they kind of grip it a little bit more and want to knock in all the runs and want to have that big hit or big home run, whatever it is, because they know where we’re at in the season as far as the record and where we’re at in the standings,” Schumaker said. “And so I think sometimes guys are putting a little bit too much pressure on themselves instead of just freeing up and just playing.”
Langford singled in his last at-bat of Friday’s 9-1 loss at Chase Field.
“Wyatt is such a good hitter, such a good player that I’m thinking it’s going to click every at-bat when he’s up,” Schumaker explained. “Got a hit his last at-bat last night. Hopefully it carries over tonight.”
Wyatt Langford’s Season
Through 95 games Langford has hit .241/.330/.435 with 16 home runs, 18 doubles, and 38 RBI. He has stolen 13 bases in 16 tries, carries a 121 OPS+, and ranks second among Texas Rangers position players at 2.8 WAR.
Ahead of him at 4.6 is Ezequiel Durán, who has played 138 games and hit .270/.330/.445 with 17 home runs and 78 RBI.
The Lineup Around Him
Batting third in his first game back from a seven-week calf absence, Jung pushed everyone below him down a slot.
Limited to 87 games, Corey Seager has hit .227/.322/.430 with 17 home runs. Joc Pederson leads the club at 135 OPS+, and his 26 home runs through 134 games tie Jake Burger for the team high.
The Rangers scored a run Friday and have gone 6-16 over their last 22 road games without taking a series since the All-Star break. Kumar Rocker faces Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt at 7:10 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network.
