BOSTON -- For the second time in this series against the Red Sox, Rangers All-Star Shin-Soo Choo was absent from the starting lineup. But it wasn't because left-hander Chris Sale was pitching, Texas manager Jeff Banister said.
"It's been consistent of how we've done, as far as structure of the lineup with [Adrian Beltre] in the DH slot," Banister said.
Choo did not play against the Red Sox on Monday in the series opener, but he extended his franchise-record on-base streak to 48 games on Tuesday. He was absent in Wednesday's series finale because Beltre was placed in the designated hitter slot -- a move that Banister said usually results in Choo getting bumped from the lineup.
Against Sale, Beltre was 5-for-16 with a home run, an RBI and two walks, entering Wednesday. Choo, on the other hand, has gone 2-for-26 with three walks and 12 strikeouts vs. Sale.
But while the Boston lefty is a daunting pitcher to face, Banister shrugged off the notion that Choo was not batting for that reason.
"When Choo's locked in and swinging, which he has been," Banister said, "and all things being equal, I've never held him out of this consistent left-on-left situations at all. This has everything to do with Adrian's DHing and Choo's not."
Banister pleased with Hamels' progress
Cole Hamels might have struggled on the mound lately, but Banister said he is pleased with the progress he has seen from the left-hander.
"I thought his stuff in the last outing was as sharp and crisp as he's been," Banister said.
Hamels, who is set to start Friday when the Rangers face Baltimore, has impressed Banister with a strong breaking ball, slider and changeup. Hamels struggled in his last start against the Tigers, giving up seven runs (three earned) in two-thirds of an inning. Against the White Sox on July 1, he struck out seven while allowing seven runs over five innings.
"If you go back and watch some of those, there's still some moments inside those games where there were little things that kind of led to an inning that got away," Banister said. "Cole has been really good in covering those up."