Worth noting

By Tom Singer

September 8, 2013

• Hurdle has penciled in Garrett Jones for designated-hitter duty in Texas, at least for Monday's series opener against Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish. Jones is 3-for-17 in that role this season, 21-for-84 with one home run lifetime.

• With Class A West Virginia's elimination on Saturday from the South Atlantic League playoffs spoiling Wandy Rodriguez's chances for another rehab start, the club weighs the likelihood of activating him. The lefty was due to throw a side session on Sunday to "see if he can pull that off," Hurdle said. Rodriguez felt a little soreness the day after his Friday night three-inning start in Indianapolis, and the hope is that was just routine off his first competitive outing in a while.

• Hurdle feels confident about using Starling Marte on defense as well as to pinch-run, but bat work remains on the shelf.

"The last piece is swinging the bat," Hurdle said of Marte's lingering discomfort in his bruised right hand. "The force of the swing, letting it rip, is still not there."

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.