DLLS Texas Rangers Morning Roundup: Good news on Josh Smith. Not-so-good news on Corey Seager

Josh Smith’s back was good enough for him to pinch hit Tuesday night, but Corey Seager’s hamstring was not good enough to avoid a second stint on the injured list.

Corey Seager landed back on the injured list Tuesday afternoon as he continues to deal with a strained right hamstring, but the Texas Rangers‘ other shortstop and leadoff hitter appears to have overcome a back issue.

Seager is on the IL for the second time this season. He spent the minimum 10 days out the first time but returned at less than full strength amid the Rangers’ offensive struggles. He made an immediate impact and played in four straight games after being reinstated.

He missed games Thursday and Friday but returned to the lineup Saturday to hit two home runs and a double. But he didn’t play Sunday, when manager Bruce Bochy started to hint that Seager might go back on the IL.

“He’s sore,” Bochy said Monday, when the Rangers evaluated Seager before the opener against the Rockies.

Smith was a scratch from the Monday lineup after showing up with back soreness. He received treatment and indicated before Tuesday’s game that he was available off the bench. Bochy used Smith as a pinch-hitter in the seventh, and he stayed in the game at shortstop.

Smith entered the game seventh in the American League with a .316 batting average.

Higashioka returns

The Rangers reinstated Kyle Higashioka from the injured list after he rested two nagging injuries, and he took Seager’s roster spot rather than the spot of fellow catcher Tucker Barnhart.

Higashioka gives the Rangers three catchers, which is a tad unusual these days. However, Bochy said that having a third catcher gives him more security in the games when Higashioka and Jonah Heim are in the lineup together as the catcher and designated hitter.

“It’s more the case of we think that’s our best club right now,” Bochy said. “He gives us the flexibility.”

Barnhart is a defensive specialist with two Gold Gloves in his trophy case. The bat has lagged the past few seasons, though he had a three-hit game last week at Boston.

He is out of minor-league options, so the Rangers would need to designate him for assignment to open a spot on the active roster. He could be claimed or elect free agency if he were to clear, so keeping him in the big leagues also preserves the Rangers’ catching depth.

Their two catchers at Triple A Round Rock are Chad Wallach, who has some time in the majors, and Cooper Johnson, who was recently promoted to Round Rock. Malcolm Moore, the Rangers’ first-round pick last season, is out with a broken finger suffered early in the season at High A Hub City.

Another reliever exits

The good news Tuesday was that right-hander Luke Jackson was feeling better the day after being struck on his pitching hand by a line drive and exiting early. The bad news was that righty Chris Martin exited his appearance after only one batter.

Martin was summoned after a leadoff single by Ryan McMahon in the ninth inning against Hoby Milner. Martin threw one pitch, which Hunter Goodman slapped into right field for a single, and quickly left the game with athletic trainer Matt Lucero.

Shawn Armstrong was called upon with runners at the corners and no outs, and struck out three straight Rockies looking. The save secured the Rangers’ fourth straight win, 4-1.

The word after the game was that Martin left with elbow tightness, which could lead to an IL stint. He was shelved for a month last season with elbow inflammation while with the Red Sox.

“You’re always concerned when he feels some elbow tightness,” Bochy said.

If Martin needs time on the IL, Cole Winn would be the likely replacement from Round Rock. He hasn’t allowed an earned run this season in 23 1/3 innings.

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Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com