Evan Carter, Leody Taveras Could Platoon In Center Field
Texas Rangers outfielders Evan Carter and Leody Taveras could start the year in a platoon in center field, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry. Neither player has hit lefties well, but Carter has really struggled, hitting .081/.150/.081 with three total hits against lefties in the big leagues since debuting late in the 2023 season. He has five strikeouts in seven at-bats against southpaws in spring training. The 22-year-old just hasn't had much exposure to high-leverage lefties in the big leagues in only 68 regular-season games played. He also played just 45 games in 2024 due to a back injury that the team is still managing. Carter expects to improve against lefties in time, but the Rangers might just continue avoid having him face them. Between recurring back issues and the fact that he won't play regularly, Carter's fantasy upside is limited in 2025.
Outfielder Leody Taveras and the Texas Rangers avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by settling on a one-year, $4.75 million deal. Taveras had a pretty disappointing 2024 campaign in his fifth year with the Rangers, slashing .229/.289/.352 with a below-average .641 OPS, 12 home runs, 44 RBI and 59 runs scored in a career-high 151 games, but he did manage a career-best 23 stolen bases. The 26-year-old switch-hitting Dominican outfielder also reached double-digit home runs for the second straight season, but Taveras could face more competition for everyday playing time and is in danger of becoming Texas' fourth outfielder unless he improves more offensively in 2025. Helping his cause is that he's solid defensively and can run. The health of Evan Carter could have a big impact on how much playing time Taveras sees next season.
Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras is on the bench again on Wednesday against the visiting division-rival Houston Astros. It will be the second straight game that Taveras will open the game riding the pine. Rookie Wyatt Langford is starting in center field and is batting fifth, while Josh Smith is playing left field and batting leadoff for the Rangers against Astros left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. The 25-year-old Taveras has displayed some modest power/speed numbers this year with nine home runs and 12 stolen bases in 107 games played, but he's batting just .227 (78-for-344) with a career-low .647 OPS in his fifth year in Texas. Since the All-Star break, the switch-hitting outfielder has hit .214 (9-for-42) with three home runs, a double, a triple, seven RBI, a stolen base and 10 strikeouts in 16 games played.
Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras provided the game-winning hit in a 5-3 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday. Taveras pinch-hit for Robbie Grossman in the seventh inning and wound up launching a two-run homer to break a 3-3 tie. The blast off New York reliever Drew Smith traveled 405 feet and had an exit velocity of 107.8 MPH. Taveras has struggled in 2024, hitting just .213 with five homers, 28 runs, 15 RBI, and six steals across 235 at-bats. Fantasy gamers holding out hope for Taveras might feel some optimism after Wednesday's performance, but it is worth noting the 25-year-old is hitting just .085 over his past 15 games.
Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored, and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies. He took Jake Bird deep in the seventh inning to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead. His home run traveled 389 feet with an exit velocity of 98.7 mph. It was his Taveras's third long ball of the season. The 25-year-old has been swinging a hot bat in May, hitting .333 (12-for-36) with two home runs, six RBI, 12 runs, and two stolen bases over 10 games. Overall, Taveras is slashing .256/.329/.395 with three home runs, 10 RBI, 20 runs, and four stolen bases over 38 games in 2024. Fantasy managers can use Taveras as a streamer in most leagues while he's wielding a hot bat.
Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras is starting Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays on the bench after starting in each of the team's first three games over the weekend against the Chicago Cubs. With Taveras getting a breather, Travis Jankowski will get the start in center field and will hit ninth against Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot. The 25-year-old Taveras has started the year going 2-for-9 with a double, two walks, three strikeouts and a run scored in his first 12 plate appearances. Jankowski has already matched his season total in home runs from last year by homering in his only plate appearance of 2024, but DFS managers should consider him a low-upside option for lineups on Monday versus the Rays while in the nine-hole.
Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras went 1-for-3 versus the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The 25-year-old has struggled this spring with a .200 batting average, but has swiped two bags. The Rangers young outfield prospects, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford have been scorching hot this spring and their strong performances may move Taveras into a fourth outfielder role upon the 2024 season. Taveras hit a respectable .266 with with 14 homers, 67 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 2023, but Carter will lock down one of the outfield spots and the emergence of Langford gives the prospect a real opportunity to crack the Opening Day roster. If Langford makes the roster out of camp, Taveras will have minimum value in the fantasy community without an injury to open up more at-bats.
Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras has been promoted to the five-hole for Friday night's ALCS Game 5 versus the Houston Astros and right-hander Justin Verlander. Tavares has spent each of the last seven games hitting out of the nine-hole at the bottom of the Rangers' lineup but Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy has juggled his lineup spots for Game 5, including moving struggling catcher Jonah Heim to the nine-spot. The promotion for Taveras certainly makes sense as he is hitting .321 with a homer, a double, a triple, and seven walks in 35 postseason plate appearances, good for a stealth .993 OPS. Along with his elite defense in center field, the 25-year-old has been one of the Rangers' most important players in these playoffs.
Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras (hand) is out of Thursday's lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 25-year-old is experiencing soreness in his left hand, which also caused his absence on Wednesday. It leaves Taveras day-to-day with his next day for a possible return arriving during Friday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians. Top prospect Evan Carter is patrolling center field and batting ninth on Thursday. Taveras' strong defense has been joined by solid offense overall in 2023, as he's hitting .269 with 12 home runs, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 464 at-bats.
Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras (undisclosed) has been scratched ahead of Wednesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 25-year-old has been pulled from the lineup due to undisclosed reasons. Before this, Taveras had played in 23 straight games, so maybe his absence is rest related. Regardless, Evan Carter will fill in at center field and bat ninth versus left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on Wednesday. Fantasy managers who have Taveras rostered should check their lineups.
Leody Taveras
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