Rangers' Joc Pederson: Slump continues

Pederson went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 9-2 loss to Seattle.

Pederson's string of futility reached 22 consecutive at-bats without a hit, dropping his batting average to .077. He had opened the season batting third or fourth but was dropped to fifth Saturday for a second straight start. Texas manager Bruce Bochy was quick to point out the drop was not a concession to Pederson's struggles, but was instead a move to avoid having three consecutive left-handed hitters after Josh Smith was inserted into the third spot in the order with Wyatt Langford (oblique) on the injured list.