For Jake Burger it's been a bounce-back season. But for the Texas Rangers first baseman the immediate future is a bit murky.
Burger left Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Angels after he was hit on the left wrist by a fastball in the third inning of the game. Video showed him being hit there on a pitch from Angels starter Ryan Johnson. Burger fell to the ground in pain and holding the left hand and wrist with his right hand.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker and a trainer came to visit him before he took first base and Burger remained in the game. He played in the field in the fourth inning but left in the fifth inning and was replaced by Nicky Lopez.
Fortunately, Burger's absence could be short. The Rangers relayed to reporters at the game that Burger had a left wrist contusion and X-rays showed no fractures. Schumaker said. "It [the pitch] got him good."
"He's pretty swollen, pretty sore," Schumaker said to Rangers Sports Network after Saturday's 3-0 loss. "So far, the X-rays are negative, but we'll probably get more scans, and he'll see the doctor later tonight [Saturday]. It squared him up pretty good. It was pretty scary."
Now the Rangers must consider how they can work without Burger in the short term. Fortunately, Texas has options.
While Burger has played 121 games at first base for Texas, four other players have played at least one game for the Rangers at first base. One is no longer in Texas. Josh Smith was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline.
That leaves Joc Pederson, who has played eight games; Justin Foscue, who has played five games; and Ezequiel Duran, who has played one.
The best defensive option is Duran, but there's a problem. Duran is playing third base because Josh Jung is on the injured list with a strained left calf. But even that hasn't been consistent of late. Duran has played left field twice this week when the Rangers gave Wyatt Langford two days away from the field at designated hitter.
If Texas flips Duran to first base, they could start Cody Freeman at third base. He played that position when Duran played left field earlier this week. Then the Rangers could start Foscue or Nicky Lopez at second base. That's an alignment the Rangers could use against left-handed pitching.
Pederson is the DH against right-handed pitching and could play in the field, too. But he may not be the best defensive option. But, in a pinch, Pederson would work. Foscue can play the position but is a far better option against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching
Burger left Saturday's game slashing .235/.297/.416 with 21 home runs and 73 RBI. Only Pederson (22) has more home runs. Texas would miss Burger's slug in the middle of the order. The Rangers just hope they don't miss it for too long.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/rangers/onsi as How Rangers Can Handle Lineup if Jake Burger Needs to Recover After Wrist Scare .
