The second half of the season hasn’t even started, and the Texas Rangers are already facing a major lineup headache. Jake Burger is back on the injured list after jamming his left quad just before the All-Star break, and the front office in Arlington seems uncertain about who will step up in his absence. With Burger sidelined until at least July 23, the real question isn't how much they'll miss his bat—he's been hitting just .228 with 11 home runs—but how they'll plug the hole at first base without breaking their defensive structure.

In this episode, we break down the Rangers’ limited internal options, including a potential Josh Smith/Ezekiel Duran platoon, plus the possibility of shuffling Josh Jung or calling up Blaine Crim. We also explore the wildcard: newly-signed Rowdy Tellez, who’s quietly waiting in the wings with a minor league deal. Who’s going to man first base, and what kind of ripple effect will it have across the infield?

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