BALTIMORE -- Delino DeShields needs to be patient because the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline may impact his situation if the Rangers decide to be sellers. That could get him back into the lineup regularly.
Right now, DeShields is a platoon player and will be back in the lineup on Thursday with left-hander Wade Miley on the mound for the Orioles. It will be just his second start in seven games since the All-Star break.
"Obviously I want to play every day," DeShields said. "I feel when I have played, I have produced. It's not as if I have been in this situation before, but I still take the mindset that I am playing every day and prepare that way. Get my work in and get extra work in the outfield, stay on top of my game and try to be as ready as I can be when my time comes."
DeShields played when other regulars were down with injuries. That changed when everybody became healthy. The chain reaction started when Adrian Beltre came off the disabled list and returned to third base. Joey Gallo moved to first to share time with Mike Napoli, who is also being used at designated hitter. That means Shin-Soo Choo has been in the outfield, and that has cut into DeShields' playing time.
Since Napoli and Carlos Gomez are free agents at the end of the year, it's obvious they could be among the players moved if the Rangers decide to sell. That would likely get DeShields back in the lineup on a more regular basis.
"I firmly believe it is in front of me and the hard work I put in during the offseason, Spring Training and this year is going to pay off," DeShields said. "Nobody thought I would come back this well. I am proud of that and it doesn't stop even though I'm not playing as much as I want."
Rangers beat
• Keone Kela, after throwing off a mound on Tuesday, had a flat-ground throwing session on Wednesday as one final test. The Rangers are expected to activate him on Thursday.
• Beltre benefitted from a scoring change on Tuesday night. His first-inning error on Adam Jones' line drive was ruled a hit. Beltre went into Wednesday's game having not committed an error in 53 consecutive games. That ties a club record for third baseman, also held by Buddy Bell and Hank Blalock.
• Choo's leadoff home run on Tuesday was his 23rd since 2012. That's third most in the Major Leagues behind Charlie Blackmon (26) and Ian Kinsler (24).