KANSAS CITY -- The Rangers placed shortstop Elvis Andrus on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right hamstring strain and they recalled outfielder Willie Calhoun, who was in the lineup for the middle game of the Royals' series as the designated hitter in the No. 2 slot, from Triple-A Nashville.

Calhoun gave the Rangers an early lift by belting a two-run homer off Jorge Lopez in his first at-bat en route to a 6-1 win at Kauffman Stadium.

Andrus felt tightness in his right hamstring as he was running out a grounder in the seventh inning of Tuesday night's 11-5 loss. He had been in the lineup for 38 of the Rangers' first 39 games.

Additionally, the club recalled left-hander Jeffrey Springs from Nashville to provide bullpen support while right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang was optioned to the Triple-A affiliate.

Andrus is hitting .325 with six homers and 26 RBIs.

"If I were to guess, I'd think he would be ready before 10 days," manager Chris Woodward said. "It's not bad, but I know how hamstrings are. They just linger on and we don't want this to linger at all. A big part of Elvis' game is his legs."

Logan Forsythe got the start at shortstop in Andrus' place on Wednesday. Calhoun gives the Rangers five outfielders who will compete for playing time.

"I would say that if somebody is going to get the bulk of the playing time, it would probably be [Joey Gallo]," Woodward said. "With the other four guys, we'll find a way to work them all in there. Things have a way of working out."

Woodward said he wants to see what Calhoun can do against Major League pitching after Calhoun flourished early this season with a .304 average at Nashville.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on myself," Calhoun said. "Just have fun and play the same game I was playing at Nashville. When I watched video from 2016 and 2017, I saw that I wasn't doing some things I did then. But I've been doing it in Triple-A this year and hitting more strikes than balls."

Starter plans
While the rotation plans for this weekend's Cardinals series aren't completely etched in stone, Woodward said he definitely wants to see right-hander Ariel Jurado start one of those three games at Globe Life Park.

"That's why we used him [Tuesday]," Woodward said. "He has been pitching so well. I would say probably Saturday. He has earned it."

Woodward said Jurado's maximum pitch count in a projected start would be around 75. Meanwhile, the Rangers are discussing the best possible role for Shelby Miller, whose ERA ballooned to 9.51 after he surrendered seven hits and eight runs in 1 2/3 innings on Tuesday. Miller's next scheduled turn would be on Sunday.

"We haven't said officially that he's not going to start Sunday, but I don't forsee him starting Sunday," Woodward said. "I have yet to talk to him about it. I just don't think it's fair. We want to put him in the best position to succeed. I have told him that many times."

Forsythe plaudits
By hitting .305 over his first 28 games this season, Forsythe has made a big impression on Woodward. Forsythe had two doubles and a triple on Tuesday, marking the first time in his career he has had three extra-base hits in a game.

"This is the best I've ever seen him hit," Woodward said. "He's one of the most prepared players. He's aware of everything that's going on and has been a tremendous asset to our team."