The Texas Rangers welcome back a key player as they fight to stay atop a tight American League West.
Texas activated Corey Seager off the injured list before Friday's game against the Houston Astros. The shortstop is starting and batting third in his first game since June 30.
Seager went on the IL with lower back inflammation for three weeks before returning on June 5. He played five games before a concussion cost him two more weeks, and returned for four games before a back injury sidelined him again.
Injuries are an unfortunate pattern for Seager, who has reached 135 games played in just one season since 2018. However, the five-time All-Star has often made up for lost time when on the field.
That hasn't been the case this year. Seager is batting .182/.292/.374 with 10 home runs in 219 plate appearances, and a 26.9 percent strikeout rate hovers far above his career 18.3 percent clip.
The Rangers can certainly use a late-season return to form from the three-time Silver Slugger, who boasts a .284/.359/.504 slash line over his 12-year career. Texas enters Friday ranked 16th in team OPS but lost third baseman Josh Jung to a calf injury earlier this month.
Seager returns just in time for a massive three-game road series against the Astros, who trail the Rangers by a half-game in the AL West. Friday's game starts at 8:15 p.m. ET on Apple TV.