Josh Smith DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Josh Smith (back) is starting at shortstop and is batting leadoff in Wednesday's contest at home against the visiting Colorado Rockies and right-hander Antonio Senzatela. A sore lower back had kept Smith out of the lineup for the first two games of the series against Colorado, but he'll be back in there on Wednesday and will be a nice low-cost DFS sleeper out of the leadoff spot against the worst team in baseball. The 27-year-old utility man will also see his fantasy stock in deeper formats increase in the short term with Corey Seager (hamstring) going back on the injured list on Tuesday. Smith has limited power and speed, but he's currently slashing an impressive .310/.389/.466 with an .855 OPS, four homers, 10 RBI, 18 runs and four steals in 116 at-bats. He has never faced Senzatela in his career.

Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Josh Smith (back) remains out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the visiting Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Field. Corey Seager (hamstring) was officially placed on the 10-day injured list for the second time this year on Tuesday as well, so Ezequiel Duran will make his third straight start at the 6 and will bat ninth against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland. The 27-year-old Smith is dealing with lower-back soreness and will miss his second straight game, although it's not considered a serious ailment. When he's cleared to return to action, he'll likely take over starting duties at shortstop in Texas until Seager returns. The 25-year-old Duran will be a weak DFS play on Tuesday at the bottom of the batting order, even against the Rockies. He's hitting .130 (3-for-23) on the year with no homers and an RBI. Duran has a hit and RBI in just two career at-bats against Freeland.

Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Josh Smith (back) was originally scheduled to play in Monday's series opener against the visiting Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Field, but he was a late scratch due to back soreness, according to the Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland. With Smith out and Corey Seager (hamstring) appearing likely to go back on the injured list, Ezequiel Duran is starting at the 6 on Monday and batting ninth against Rockies rookie right-hander Chase Dollander. As long as the 27-year-old Smith's back injury isn't too serious, he should end up making most of the starts at shortstop if Seager indeed goes back on the IL. Smith doesn't have much power or speed but has been very valuable to fantasy managers in AL-only leagues so far in 2025 by hitting .316/.395/.474 with an .869 OPS in 114 at-bats as a utility man in Texas.