Wyatt Langford, the Texas Rangers' promising left fielder, sat out Friday's matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to back stiffness. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy indicated that Langford's condition is day-to-day, with expectations for him to play Saturday. After a recent rise in performance, including a .345 batting average over his last seven games, Langford had been recovering from a slump that saw him hit just .189 in May.

Meanwhile, Josh Smith returned to the lineup, having dealt with hamstring tightness. Smith, named the American League Player of the Week for his previous performance, is recovering well enough to hit, although the team chose to limit his field time. These developments come as the Rangers approach a critical point in the season, with trade discussions heating up as they aim to bolster their squad.