Texas Rangers: Projected lineups and positioning for Rougned Odor’s return

Lineup vs. Right-handed pitchers

1. CF Delino DeShields
2. DH Shin-Soo Choo
3. RF Nomar Mazara
4. 3B Adrian Beltre
5. LF Joey Gallo
6. SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa
7. 2B Rougned Odor
8. C Robinson Chirinos
9. 1B Ronald Guzman

Notes

-The top five stays the same as it has been very effective of late.

-Falefa has earned everyday playing time.

-Shin-Soo Choo and Nomar Mazara are the only consecutive batters in the lineup that hit from the same side of the plate. This makes it very difficult for opposing teams to matchup against the Rangers in the late innings.

Possible Adjustments

-Jurickson Profar in, Ronald Guzman out. Profar would play left field and Joey Gallo would play first base.

Based on Jeff Banister’s preferences, he’ll likely keep playing Guzman against right-handed pitchers. Profar has actually hit very poorly against righties. In fact, his slash line against righties is .175/.258/.263 and his OPS is a measly .521.

Personally, I vote in favor of consistent playing time for Profar, regardless of who is on the mound. He puts together better overall at-bats than Guzman and he is more versatile than Guzman. Plus, it’s not like the rookie first baseman is knocking the cover off the ball for the Texas Rangers.