'Bored' Gomez hoping to ramp up workouts

June 3rd, 2017

ARLINGTON -- Rangers outfielder is hoping to ramp up his running and workouts as he approaches the three-week mark since he suffered a strained right hamstring.
Gomez has been able to run, now he wants to be able to run the bases, work on his lateral movements and get some time in the outfield. All are on the agenda, but the rain on Friday and Saturday disrupted his progress.
"The rain messed everything up," Gomez said. "The rain won't let us go on the field."
Gomez injured the hamstring on May 14, against the Athletics. The original diagnosis had him out four to six weeks; he should return somewhere within those parameters if the weather cooperates.
"I'm bored," he said. "I spent 13 hours [at the ballpark on Friday] and I [went] on the [stationary] bicycle five times."
The Rangers want Gomez to go through all the lateral movements needed to run the bases and play the outfield. Once he is able to do that, he will be sent to the Minor Leagues on a rehab assignment. That could happen as soon as next week.
"Everything is going better than we expected," he said. "We're still going step by step. The biggest thing is lateral movement. You can re-injure yourself.
"In center field you have balls where you have to take off and stop, and breaking from side to side, right and left. I have some other tests that I have to pass before I start rehab."
Odor stays at No. 5
The Rangers went into Saturday's game with the No. 5 hitters batting a collective .211 with a .338 slugging percentage. Both numbers were the second lowest in the American League.
is the Rangers' primary No. 5 hitter, and manager Jeff Banister is going to leave him there for now. Odor went into Saturday hitting .190 with a .292 slugging percentage in his last 49 games, but Banister believes the return of to the cleanup spot could help.
"We want to see what impact Beltre will have in the lineup," Banister said. "It was a good combination for us last year."
Rangers beat
has not allowed an earned run in 6 2/3 innings over two appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.
Said Banister: "He is a pitch-maker. When he is making pitches, he gets outs."

• The Rangers lost to the Astros, 7-1, on Friday, with their only run scoring on Beltre's home run in the ninth. It's the sixth time this season the Rangers plated their single run in a game on a home run. That's the most in the Majors.

• The Rangers are lined up to face pitchers and Zack Wheeler during their two-game series with the Mets. Texas will likely face , and Max Scherzer next weekend during its three-game series with the Nationals.