ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers have a lineup dilemma.
Left fielder Wyatt Langford, their second-year star and arguably their top healthy hitter, may be their best candidate to hit third or fourth in a lineup that needs to find a way to drive in runs.
He may also be their best candidate to hit leadoff in a lineup that needs to find a way to get men on base.
The Rangers, at least temporarily, have shown what they prioritize.
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Langford hit leadoff against a left-handed pitcher for the second consecutive game in Monday’s series opener vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at Globe Life Field. The 23-year-old had batted leadoff seven times prior to Sunday’s win vs. the Houston Astros. The conditions were different, though, with a significantly healthier lineup in place to allow a power hitter of Langford’s ilk to bat in a position less susceptible to opportunities with runners on base.
The Rangers, prior to Sunday, had opted to use outfielder Michael Helman at leadoff against left-handers and to keep Langford, whose .343 on-base percentage leads all healthy Texas hitters, closer to the heart of the order to help supplement some of the thump lost with shortstop Corey Seager (appendectomy) and right fielder Adolis García (quad) sidelined.
Bochy had previously acknowledged that Langford’s ability to drive in runs outweighed his potential contributions atop the order. Now, as the Rangers begin a pivotal 18-game stretch to close the season with three of their four highest-paid hitters sidelined, the priority is to get runners on base and figure the rest out later after a stretch of games against the Diamondbacks and Astros where the club’s makeshift offense struggled to create the same spark that it did against the Athletics last weekend.
“I guess you look at who you could put in front of them that could maybe get on base,” Bochy said when asked to explain how he’s balanced Langford’s position. “Not that we don’t have somebody that I think can get on, but the point being, dropping all the experienced right-handed hitters except for Cody [Freeman], put them down and try to get them the extra at bat off of [the pitcher].”
Twitter: @McFarland_Shawn
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