ANAHEIM -- The Rangers on Tuesday placed outfielder/designated hitter Hunter Pence on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain, retroactive to Saturday. Pence was scratched from Friday’s starting lineup against the White Sox in Chicago with back stiffness and has sat out the previous three games.

Pence, 36, traveled with the team to Anaheim with the hopes of starting the series opener against the Angels on Tuesday, but once here, it was determined that he needed at least a few more days before he would be ready to play again. According to manager Chris Woodward, Pence showed signs of improvement initially, but has since plateaued in his recovery.

“It’s pretty locked up still,” said Woodward. “I wouldn’t say [he’s] taken a step back from a couple days ago, it just hasn’t improved.”

Pence missed about a month earlier in the season with a right groin strain, but when he’s been healthy, he’s been one of the Rangers’ top offensive performers. A 2019 American League All-Star, Pence is batting .297/.358/.552 with 18 home runs for Texas. The soonest he will be eligible to return is Sept. 3, when the Rangers play the Yankees in New York.

As the corresponding move, the Rangers recalled infielder/catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa from Triple-A Nashville. Across two Major League stints this season, Kiner-Falefa, 24, has batted .230/.303/.324 with one homer in 51 games.