Giving Semien a day off becomes pressing matter
ARLINGTON – Rangers manager Chris Woodward knew how the conversation would go if he simply pitched second baseman Marcus Semien the idea of taking a day off.
“I don’t think I can talk to him about it and bring him in and say, ‘Hey, what do you think about an off day?’ ” Woodward said. “He’d go, ‘Absolutely not.’ ”
So Woodward simply took it out of Semien’s hands.
On Thursday, for the first time this season, Semien was not included in the Rangers’ starting lineup against the Kansas City Royals. Andy Ibáñez instead got the start at second.
Semien, one of the Rangers’ two big infield signings this offseason, entered Thursday hitting a team-low .165. He had 45 home runs and six through 29 games a season ago, but he has yet to hit one this season. He went 0-for-4 in Wednesday’s loss to the Royals to extend a 0 for 17 hitless streak.
“I think he might be a little pressing,” Woodward said after the game. “You know, he’s trying to go up there and do too much. You could just tell the decision making in the batter’s box – he’s check swinging at balls, and when you start to see a guy like that (do that), it tells me it’s more between the ears. He obviously comes every day to work and expects to contribute and he’ll find his way out of it. No doubt in my mind.”
Semien told reporters after the game that he doesn’t feel bad about where he’s at currently.
“There’s just nothing to show for it,” Semien said, via Mlb.com. “I had a decent start to the road trip and then just a tough, tough stretch of games. I’m staying positive.”
Gray may get start Monday
The Rangers continue to be pleasantly surprised with how starting pitcher Jon Gray has felt since tweaking his previously injured knee in New York on Monday, but they do plan on giving him at least one extra day of rest.
Martín Pérez, fresh off his fourth straight start of at least six innings and no more than one earned run, will move up a spot in the rotation and pitch on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox. Dane Dunning was scheduled to be the starter for the Rangers in the series opener Friday, and Glenn Otto will go on Saturday.
As for Gray, the expectation is he’ll pitch on Monday at home against the Los Angeles Angels.
“There’s still a chance he might not,” Woodward said, “but as of right now, he probably will. He feels good.”
Gray has pitched in just four outings for the Rangers after signing a four-year, $56 million deal in the offseason. He was placed on the IL with a blister after his opening day start and he returned to the IL after his second start with a left knee sprain. He left Monday’s game in New York in the fifth inning with soreness, but he has since reported feeling good. Woodward expects he’ll wear a knee brace for at least a few starts.