ARLINGTON -- Nicky Lopez’s grandfather always wore a Royals jacket. Lopez was selected by the Royals in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft and spent the first 4 1/2 years of his big league career with the organization. Even over the past few years, as Lopez has hopped

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ARLINGTON -- It took four pitches on Thursday night for the Astros to take a lead over the Rangers. After 13 pitches, Nathan Eovaldi had given up a pair of homers and a walk to the top of the Astros’ order. That was all Houston needed to secure a victory.

ARLINGTON -- Hanging in Josh Smith's locker sat what looked to be a makeshift hospital gown with a “SMITH 8” on the back to appear like it was a jersey.

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers' offense has been the team's main point of criticism for more than two years now. The first change of some kind was bound to come at some point this season. It happened on Wednesday, when the Rangers designated veteran Andrew McCutchen for assignment, while also signing

ARLINGTON -- Skip Schumaker admitted it would probably be a long night for himself and the Rangers' hitting coaches. It goes without saying that they probably needed the braintrust to get together after getting no-hit by three Astros’ pitchers on Monday night.

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ARLINGTON -- Memorial Day is typically a good benchmark during a baseball season. It’s a good date -- about one-third of the way through 162 -- to evaluate your team and the league.

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DENVER -- “A four-run lead here doesn't mean [crap],” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said ahead of his club’s series opener against the Rockies at Coors Field on Monday afternoon. Of course, he was referring to the notorious offensive production in the Mile High City. This park can get into guys’

DENVER -- Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo exited Wednesday’s 5-4 win over the Rockies at Coors Field in the fifth inning with right hamstring tightness. The move was precautionary. Nimmo singled with two outs in the inning before manager Skip Schumaker and a trainer went out to chat with him

DENVER -- Kumar Rocker did not make his scheduled start on Tuesday at Coors Field.

DENVER -- For the second time in the last week, the Rangers had to put together an impromptu bullpen game. Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore was removed in the second inning of the Rangers’ series-opening 7-6 loss to the Rockies on Monday due to left lat tightness. It is a precautionary

HOUSTON -- It may have been Rivalry Weekend in MLB, but that didn’t stop noted nice guy Brandon Nimmo from making friends with some Astros fans during the Silver Boot Series this weekend.

DENVER -- The Rangers will have to endure yet another blow to their lineup. On Monday in Colorado, the Rangers announced that shortstop Corey Seager was placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation. Utilityman Michael Helman was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move. “I

HOUSTON -- The home run lights began to flicker at Daikin Park as Yordan Alvarez started to round the bases in the fourth inning after connecting with a hanging curveball out of the hand of Nathan Eovaldi.

HOUSTON -- They always say solo homers won’t kill you. But four of them? That’ll certainly do the job. Rangers ace Jacob deGrom allowed solo homers to Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Christian Walker and Zach Cole in Texas’ 4-1 loss to the Astros on Saturday night.

HOUSTON -- Corey Seager is out of the Rangers’ lineup for the second day in a row on Saturday as the club continues its three-game series against the Astros this weekend. • Seager left out of lineup vs. Astros amid career-worst slump

HOUSTON -- Jack Leiter began to strut off the mound, assuming he struck out Christian Vázquez in the bottom of the seventh inning. But then, Leiter paused in the middle of the infield grass as the Astros' catcher challenged the pitch.

HOUSTON -- Rangers shortstop Corey Seager received a needed off-day amid a career-worst 0-for-27 skid as Texas opened its series in Houston on Friday.

HOUSTON -- Rangers infielder Josh Smith has been diagnosed with viral meningitis, the club announced on Friday.

ARLINGTON -- Jake Burger obviously knows the Krabby Patty formula. For SpongeBob SquarePants Night at Globe Life Field against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, it was only right that Burger would blast a three-run opposite-field homer in the fifth inning before delivering a game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the

ARLINGTON -- Rangers manager Skip Schumaker hasn’t been scared of changing up the lineup if things aren’t going smoothly. Joc Pederson hitting in the leadoff spot in the Rangers' 7-4 win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday certainly raised some eyebrows, and Schumaker might as well have been Brad Pitt as

ARLINGTON -- Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo exited Tuesday night’s 7-4 win against the Diamondbacks with a left ankle injury after an infield single in the sixth inning. Manager Skip Schumaker said postgame that Nimmo sprained his ankle, but the X-rays were clear and he’s going to be day to

This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.