Seager (concussion symptoms) out of lineup for third straight game

BOSTON -- For the third straight game, Rangers shortstop Corey Seager was not in the lineup as he deals with mild concussion symptoms, per the club.

He continues to go through league concussion protocols and is to be reevaluated when the team returns to Texas.

In Thursday’s series finale at Kansas City, Seager was waved around from first on a Brandon Nimmo double in the first inning, but with a close throw coming home, he slid awkwardly and collided with Royals catcher Carter Jensen.

Seager, who missed 19 games with lower back inflammation in May and early June, remained in that game and even collected his ninth home run of the season in a two-hit day, but when he awoke Friday, prior to the start of the team’s series in Boston, his ribs and jaw made it too painful to play.

Though he would miss the entire series at Fenway Park, the shortstop, who is hitting .186 on the year, was able to hit, throw and do his weight routine Sunday, a positive sign for the club.

“[He’s] definitely improving,” said manager Skip Schumaker, who added that Seager remains day to day. “He hit and threw and [was in the] weight room and all that stuff today, which is good. It feels like we’re getting closer.”

The team also placed outfielder Michael Helman on the 10-day injured list, just one day after the man he replaced in center field, Evan Carter, hit the IL with a right oblique strain.

“When it immediately happened, I was like, ‘I think I’m fine,’” said Helman, who will undergo further testing when the team returns to Texas. “Then I’m standing on first base for a while and it was swelling up pretty bad.”

Helman suffered a finger fracture in his right hand after being hit by a 99.5 mph sinker Saturday, and while he remained in the game to run the bases, he would not return to the field the following inning.

Helman was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on May 18 and hit just .167 in 15 games for the club, but in nine games at center field, he was 14-for-14 on putouts. The Rangers recalled outfielder Alejandro Osuna to take his place on the roster.

“Without Carter, without Helman, those were our two options,” Schumaker said of how he’ll handle center field duties. “You’re going to see different guys go out there. It’ll be mix-and-match. … I wouldn’t rule out [Ezequiel] Duran, I wouldn’t rule out Osuna, and obviously Wyatt [Langford].

“In Kansas City you felt like you had a healthy roster, and how quickly that changed within a couple of days is wild. This game is crazy. That’s why it’s important to have a deep system.”