Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers

Two weeks ago, Josh Smith was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock for the first time since 2022. At the same time, the Rangers were staring down a stretch that very well could have changed the course of the season. His stay down in Round Rock was quick, with shortstop Corey Seager landing on the injured list for the third time this season on Wednesday. Smith’s impact upon his return was quick, too. The utilityman launched a 406-foot, pinch-hit solo homer in the Rangers’ 10-4 win over the Tigers on Thursday night, giving them much-needed insurance in the middle innings before Texas padded the lead late. And Smith returned to a team in a much different position than the one he left. Thursday's victory was a full team win that capped off a 15-game, 15-day stretch for the Rangers that included a 10-game road trip between Miami, Toronto and Cleveland. They came out of it 15-10 to climb back above .500 and into first place in the American League West, where they're currently tied with the Mariners. Over the course of 15 days, the Rangers welcomed both Wyatt Langford Seager back to the lineup. Over the course of these 15 days, they’ve both landed back on the injured list yet again. But that hasn’t slowed the guys that have remained. “That is a testament to the front office, the players stepping up at the right time and filling in in different positions,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “We had some big boys go down, too. For them to fill in and do what they did just shows you what's in that clubhouse, the type of culture there is here. That's what I'm most proud of, these guys having real team wins.”