Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre hasn't played since the 22nd of July, with a hamstring injury, and isn't likely to play again until September. From Jeff Wilson:
Adrian Beltre Won’t Return Until September
Adrian Beltre hit the field for the first time since reinjuring his left hamstring. He did some agility work and light running at Angel Stadium, and also was going some work in the weight room. Manager Ron Washington isn’t expecting Beltre to return until September. Washington said that the Rangers will try to keep Beltre from pushing too hard during this rehab period.
At various points this season, it looked like the Rangers might need all hands on deck if they were going to hold off the Orange County Angels. Now, though? After smashing the Angels Monday night, the Rangers boast a lovely five-game lead and have a chance to cushion their lead even further this week. It's getting to the point where preparing for October baseball will seem as important as winning regular-season games.
In Beltre's absence, Michael Young has been playing third base regularly, and of course he's been excellent this season. Meanwhile, Mike Napoli and Yorvit Torrealba have been shifting between catching and DHing, and the Rangers haven't really missed a beat.
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