Rangers SS Elvis Andrus exits game with back injury

With the Texas Rangers in the thick of a playoff push, the last thing they need is a nagging injury to one of their everyday players, but that is exactly where they are on Saturday.

Shortstop Elvis Andrus exited the Rangers’ game with the Twins (still in progress as this is being written) as a result of a back injury, and it has been diagnosed as simply tightness in his lower back. However, Andrus has been pronounced as day-to-day by the club, and he was visibly limping before being removed.

On the season, Andrus has .263/.324/.315 slash line at the plate, but his value already comes from his legs and glove. He has 35 steals on the year, and according to various metrics, Andrus varies from a good-to-great defensive shortstop. Also, he has improved his production with the bat after the All-Star break, sporting a .314 batting average and .376 on-base percentage, and this injury can’t be positive for him going forward.

This could be a lot of smoke about nothing, but the Rangers are better with Andrus in the lineup. Texas currently holds a 2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics, but they are, fortunately, safe in the Wild Card race unless a collapse takes place. It would be wise for them to give Andrus the time he needs to recover fully, but at the same time, the team surely hopes that it won’t be more than a few days.