CLEVELAND — Corey Seager is hurt. 

Less than a week after returning from a two-week concussion-related absence and just three weeks after returning from a three-week back inflammation absence, Seager was removed in the top of the first inning Tuesday before he could even take an at-bat. He was pulled from the game as he stood on the top step in the first inning, about to enter the on-deck circle. The culprit: More lower back discomfort that flared up as he was getting loose in the moments before the first pitch. 

Schumaker said athletic trainer Matt Lucero noticed something about Seager’s movements that seemed off, checked with the hitter and then reported back to the manager. Schumaker didn’t hesitate to pull Seager for rookie Cam Cauley.

“Hopefully it’s a just a flare-up,” Seager said after the Rangers’ 4-2 win. “You don’t want to go out and push it and do anything stupid during the game, so hopefully I feel better [Wednesday] and kind of go from there, but we’ve got to see how we wake up tomorrow. Basically, the conversation with [Lucero] was ‘let’s not do anything dumb.’ Once it’s already bothering you, there’s no point in pushing it and making it worse. Hopefully, you catch it early.”

Seager, 32, had played in three of the five games the Rangers had played since being activated from the concussion list. As a maintenance tool, the Rangers were slowly ramping him back up to everyday play. He had played one game, taken the next off, then played two and was off on Monday. Seager said he had done agility and flexibility drills earlier in the afternoon to get ready to play, but when he took the field, he started to feel the back issue.

“I had no problems throughout the day,” he said.

Though Seager will be listed as having appeared in Tuesday’s game, he has essentially missed 35 of the Rangers’ last 43 games. The Rangers have gone 16-18 in Seager’s absence. After he was removed, Seager returned to the clubhouse to undergo treatment. With a day game scheduled for Wednesday, which usually compresses pre-game workout schedules, it would seem uncertain if Seager can pass enough tests to play, even if he wakes up feeling better.

If Seager needs a third IL stint this season, his replacement may already be on hand. Josh Smith was added to the taxi squad Tuesday as a contingency in case Brandon Nimmo (sprained AC joint) needed an IL placement, but Nimmo reported significant progress Tuesday and may well avoid the IL entirely.