As a team, the Rangers impressively scored 15 runs on 18 hits and did so without the benefit of a home run. Every starter in their lineup drove in a run except Jonah Heim, and every starter scored at least one run except for Kyle Higashioka. Smith delivered an RBI single in the second inning that made it a 2-0 ballgame. He chipped in another run-scoring single in the sixth that made it 12-0. The versatile 27-year-old also walked and stole a base in the contest. On the season, he’s now slashing .319/.402/.458 with two homers, six RBI and four stolen bases through his first 72 at-bats. He’ll continue to see everyday action at shortstop while Corey Seager (hamstring) is shelved.

Smith is back at first base and batting third on Saturday afternoon with Jake Burger on the bench. The versatile 27-year-old missed the club’s previous four games due to a lingering thumb issue.

It’ll be the third straight game that Smith has missed due to a lingering thumb injury. The encouraging news is that he hasn’t been placed on the injured list, so it sounds like the Rangers think he’s getting closer to a return. Dustin Harris will start in left field once more and will bat fifth against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers on Friday evening in Arlington.

Smith remains absent from the lineup card for the second straight contest due to a lingering thumb issue. He’s presumably still day-to-day for now. It’ll be rookie Dustin Harris in left field on Wednesday night in his absence.