Fantasy News

• Rangers' Evan Carter: Could return Friday

  Rotowire May 14, 2024

  Carter (back) received a cortisone injection and is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Guardians, but he could rejoin the lineup as soon as Friday versus the Angels, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning Newsreports. The 21-year-old hasn't seen the field since Saturday and was diagnosed with lower-back inflammation after an MRI on Monday. He'll now be unavailable for at least a couple more days following the injection. Ezequiel Duran is receiving another start in left field Tuesday in Carter's stead.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Receiving cortisone shot

  Rotowire May 13, 2024

  Carter's MRI revealed inflammation in his lower back, and he'll get a cortisone shot Tuesday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. He could be back in the lineup within a few days if all goes well following the cortisone injection, per Wilson. Carter's absence has allowed for Ezequiel Duran to find everyday work while moving around the diamond, and Robbie Grossman also recently picked up a start in left field.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Undergoing MRI on injured back

  Rotowire May 13, 2024

  Carter will undergo an MRI on his back Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. Carter is out of the lineup for a fourth straight game Monday against the Guardians, with the last three absences due to a lower-back problem. The fact that the injury has necessitated an MRI points to a possible stint on the 10-day injured list, but more information on Carter's should be known once the results are in. Ezequiel Duran will start in left field for the Rangers on Monday.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Held out for third straight game

  Rotowire May 12, 2024

  Carter (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. With lefty Austin Gomber starting for Colorado in Friday's 4-2 loss, Carter was held out of the starting nine, but he logged an at-bat off the bench as a pinch-hitter. He may have tweaked his back at some point during that appearance, however, as he'll remain on the bench for a third straight day. Robbie Grossman will fill in for the banged-up Carter in left field.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Dealing with stiff back

  Rotowire May 11, 2024

  Carter is sitting Saturday against the Rockies due to lower-back stiffness, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. Carter has a history of lower-back issues, so the Rangers are acting cautiously, per Grant. Travis Jankowski is getting the start in left field and batting seventh.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Sitting versus southpaw

  Rotowire May 6, 2024

  Carter is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics. The A's are sending southpaw Alex Wood to the hill, so the left-handed hitting Carter will receive a day off. Ezequiel Duran is getting the start in left field Monday.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Starts against lefty

  Rotowire May 3, 2024

  Carter started in center field and went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's 6-0 win over Washington. Carter got the rare start against a left-hander and produced his second hit in 16 at-bats against a southpaw. Texas manager Bruce Bochy has shied away from using Carter in these situations but gave him a shot Thursday with Leody Taveras getting the night off. Rangers general manager Chris Young explained to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that at this point in his MLB career, Carter has not faced the quality of stuff that major-league lefties possess, suggesting the team is bringing the 21-year-old along slowly in that regard. "I think [Bochy] is doing a very good job of giving him his fair share of at-bats against lefties knowing that there's only one way to develop, and that's to go through it," the GM said. Young also noted Carter's advanced aptitude and is confident he'll eventually succeed against all pitchers.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Not facing lefty

  Rotowire Apr 30, 2024

  Carter is out of Tuesday's lineup against the Nationals. Carter has now sat out each of the Rangers' last three games against left-handed pitching and seems to be falling into a platoon. Wyatt Langford will draw the start in left while Davis Wendzel will handle DH duties Tuesday.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Belts fourth homer Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 25, 2024

  Carter went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and a triple in a 5-1 victory versus the Mariners on Wednesday. Carter hit the second of back-to-back homers for Seattle in the fourth inning and added a run-scoring triple in the seventh. The long ball was his second in three games after he went deep just twice over his first 19 contests of the campaign. Carter's average sat below the Mendoza line as recently as April 20, but with two multi-hit games over his past three contests, it's now up to .215.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Gets day off Thursday

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2024

  Carter is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics. Carter will head to the bench for the second time in 13 games this season, despite boosting his batting average to .189 with a 1-for-4 showing in Wednesday's 6-2 win. With Carter out of the lineup, the Rangers will roll out an outfield of Wyatt Langford, Leody Taveras and Adolis Garcia from left to right.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Busting out of slump

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Carter went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Saturday's 7-2 win over Houston. Carter, who opened the season on an 0-for-15 skid, is 5-for-9 with three doubles and a walk over the first two games of the series against the Astros. He managed to maintain his plate discipline amid the slump and not get swing happy, as evidenced by the six walks he drew.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Collects first hits, finally

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Carter went 2-for-4 with a walk and a double in Friday's 10-2 win over Houston. Carter ended a season-opening hitless streak with a second-inning double. He later singled in the fifth. The outfielder went 23 plate appearances before reaching base safely via a hit. He'd maintained relevancy, however, through a high on-base percentage thanks to his excellent plate discipline (six walks, five runs, a stolen base heading into Friday).

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Takes seat amid hitless streak

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2024

  Carter is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays. Though Carter has drawn six walks while striking out just twice through five games while holding a share of the team lead with five runs, he's gone 0-for-15 to begin the season. He'll take a seat for the first time in 2024 amid the hitting slump, but the strong plate discipline he's demonstrated thus far bodes well for his outlook moving forward once some of his poor BABIP luck reverses.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Homers twice

  Rotowire Mar 5, 2024

  Carter started in left field and went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI in Tuesday's spring game against Seattle. Carter, who batted leadoff, took the third pitch of the game over the fence to give the Rangers an early lead. He followed up with a grand slam in the second frame. "You definitely don't want to let hittable pitches go by," Carter told Manny Randwaha of MLB.com. "So just being ready to go in a moment's notice right there." Carter's hit safely in five consecutive games and is batting .389 with a 1.178 OPS over 20 Cactus League plate appearances.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Back in lineup Tuesday

  Rotowire Feb 27, 2024

  Carter (forearm) is starting in right field and batting second for the Rangers in Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks. Carter had to exit Sunday's game after being struck on the left forearm by a pitch. X-rays came back clean, though, and after playing in an intrasquad game Monday, he's back in the lineup Tuesday. While he's playing right field Tuesday, Carter projects as the Rangers' Opening Day left fielder.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: X-rays return negative

  Rotowire Feb 25, 2024

  Carter had X-rays on his left forearm come back negative Sunday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. The 21-year-old exited Sunday's exhibition against the Giants after being hit by a pitch, and the negative test result is an encouraging development. Carter should be able to rejoin the Rangers' Cactus League lineup within the next few days.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Ready to face MLB left-handers

  Rotowire Feb 20, 2024

  Carter acknowledged Monday a lack of experience and production against left-handed pitching, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. He went a combined 1-for-20 with two walks against southpaws in the regular season and playoffs. Carter was a good story for the Rangers in 2023, getting a September callup and posting a 1.058 OPS over 23 regular-season games and a .917 OPS in the postseason. However, his performance against left-handers is something to monitor in 2024, when he is expected to be the team's starter in left field. Carter explained that he routinely sat against lefties in the minors and produced a .243/.338/.257 slash line versus that handedness in 70 at-bats. "I think the numbers aside -- take this for what it's worth -- I felt fine against them," Carter added. "I was in the box like, 'I can do this.' What, are you going to take 10 at-bats and say that you can't can't do something? I felt good in the box." He believes his numbers will improve the more he sees lefties in the majors, as does Texas offensive coordinator Donnie Eckler and the rest of the staff, who recognize that facing left-handed pitching in the majors can sometimes be a rocky part of a player's development in the early stages of their big-league career.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Absent from Game 2 lineup

  Rotowire Oct 16, 2023

  Carter is not in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALCS against the Astros. This is the first time the Rangers have faced a lefty starter this postseason in Framber Valdez, and it's the first time the left-handed hitting Carter has been on the bench. Switch hitter Robbie Grossman will handle left field for the Rangers, while Mitch Garver will occupy the designated hitter spot.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Could rise up lineup for ALDS

  Rotowire Oct 6, 2023

  Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that he's considering moving Carter up in the lineup for the ALDS against the Orioles, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. The 21-year-old outfielder batted ninth in Games 1 and 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Rays and went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, three walks and a hit-by pitch, reaching base in seven of his eight plate appearances. "He handles himself so well," said Bochy. "He could go in the three-hole, or in the five-hole, or really anywhere in the lineup." As noted by Grant, the No. 3 hitters for Texas have gone a combined 18-for-116 (.155) dating back to the beginning of September.

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• Rangers' Evan Carter: Swipes bag in win

  Rotowire Oct 3, 2023

  Carter went 2-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Rays in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series. Carter entered the postseason carrying a .310/.408/.714 line across 42 ABs in his last 15 regular-season games, and taking the stage for the first time in his career did not phase the rookie. While he stole only a single base in that span, he does possess an elite 29.6 ft/s sprint speed, which he may utilize more in the postseason to create additional run-scoring opportunities.

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