Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) could miss the rest of the regular season, according to general manager Chris Young. Things have been pointing in this direction for Carter, and he was recently moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL, meaning that he won't be able to return until at least September. There may not be much to play for for the defending World Series champions by then. The 21-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has been on the shelf since late May with a lumbar sprain in his back and he recently had a setback, prompting the team to shut him down from baseball activities. Carter's extended absence late into the second half of the season should assure Leody Taveras of regular playing time to close out the year. Before getting hurt, Carter was disappointing with a .188/.272/.361 slash line with five homers in 144 at-bats in just his second year in the big leagues.

In a flurry of roster moves on Monday, the Texas Rangers transferred outfielder Evan Carter (back) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. It has been a lost season for Carter, who has been on the shelf since May 28 with a lumbar sprain. The 21-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder was shut down from baseball activities last Friday and is getting a second opinion on his troublesome back injury. Depending on what doctors say, there's a chance Carter won't return to the Rangers the rest of the season. The former second-rounder in 2020 made his big-league debut in 2023 and hit an impressive .306/.413/.645 with a 1.058 OPS, five homers and 12 RBI in 23 regular-season games before helping the Rangers win their first-ever World Series title. However, he went just .27-for-144 (.188) this year before his back woes cropped up, and his fantasy value has taken a nose dive in 2024. Carter is going to need to improve against lefties to secure regular starts whenever he returns.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said before Friday's game against the hosting Toronto Blue Jays that outfielder Evan Carter (back) is seeing a back specialist in California for a second opinion. He's effectively shut down from all baseball activities until the Rangers get a report back to reassess Carter's condition and map out the next steps for his recovery. "He's just not quite coming along like we were hoping," Bochy said. Carter had rejoined the club around the All-Star break and ramped up activities, but his return timeline goes totally up in the air with this development. It's worth noting he missed time in the minor leagues with a stress fracture in his back in 2021, so Texas has been cautious with him. The 21-year-old top prospect is starting to lose steam as a stash candidate in redraft fantasy leagues. Veteran switch-hitter Robbie Grossman is batting .341 (15-for-44) with three home runs, six RBI, and 11 runs scored in his last 17 games.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) has ramped up again after rejoining the big-league club around the All-Star break. Carter shagged fly balls on the field on Sunday and is scheduled to take batting practice on the field prior to Tuesday's game against the visiting Chicago White Sox. The 21-year-old top prospect is working his way back from an extended absence due to lower-back soreness, and while he's unlikely return to the Rangers before the end of July, he could get back into game action in the form of a minor-league rehab assignment within the next week or so if all goes well. Although Carter has been one of fantasy's biggest busts this year, batting 27-for-144 (.188) with five home runs, 15 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 45 outings before getting injured, he still has five-category upside and an everyday role in left field to warrant being stashed in all leagues.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) has begun to swing a bat, per Texas skipper Bruce Bochy. Carter was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 28 with lower back tightness. Bochy also expressed that the 21-year-old should be expected to face live pitching in the coming days. This injury could have been bothering Carter much longer than fantasy managers could have expected as he struggled through the early part of the season. He held a poor .188/.272/.361 line with five home runs in 45 games. Carter will likely need a lengthy rehab assessment due to how long he has been sidelined. However, when he returns to big league action he should time primarily in left field, which could shift rookie Wyatt Langford to a designated hitter role.

Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Evan Carter (back) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. The Rangers will basically swap outfielders with Wyatt Langford (hamstring) coming on the injured list on Tuesday. Carter was struggling heavily at the plate, so some time off could be a good idea for him. The 21-year-old was in the middle of an 0-for-21 hitless streak before going down due to back tightness. The assumption is that Langford is going to gain a majority of the playing time.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter will take a seat on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies with a left-hander on the mound in Ranger Suarez. Carter, who is still only 21 years old, has hit just .205/.293/.394 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 23 runs scored in 40 games in 2024 in his first full season in the big leagues. Against left-handers, he has just three hits in 27 at-bats with one walk and 10 strikeouts. If Carter continues to struggle offensively for the reigning World Series champions, he could find himself on the bench more often than not when a lefty is on the mound. Ezequiel Duran is in left field and is hitting fifth against Suarez on Tuesday. Duran is hitting a strong .286 (24-for-84) on the year but has just four RBI and has yet to clear the fences. He's never faced Suarez in his career.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) is returning to the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. The rookie outfielder missed over a week due to a lower back issue. Luckily, it appears to be behind him and he's ready to play again. Carter has put together an up-and-down season so far in 2024. Fantasy managers who have Carter rostered can get him back in their lineups. Carter will cover left field and bat seventh against the Halos on Sunday.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that outfielder Evan Carter (back) will be available off the bench on Friday versus the Los Angeles Angels. Carter is dealing with lower-back inflammation and has not played since May 10, but it's a good sign that he's at least available to play later in the series opener against the Angels. The 21-year-old lefty swinger received a cortisone injection in his back on Monday and could be ready to rejoin the starting lineup this weekend on either Saturday or Sunday. After an impressive showing in his rookie season in 2023 while helping the Rangers win their first championship, Carter is struggling in his first full campaign, batting .216/.303/.416 with five homers and 15 RBI in 142 plate appearances. Carter's upside makes him stash-worthy in all leagues, though. Ezequiel Duran is starting in left field again and will bat seventh against Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) received a cortisone injection in his back on Tuesday and remains out of the starting lineup against the Cleveland Guardians. According to the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant, it seems as though Friday is a realistic date for Carter to return to the lineup. The 21-year-old has not played since last Saturday and was diagnosed with lower-back inflammation after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday. While Carter could miss a few more days, it seems like he has a chance to avoid going on the injured list. Ezequiel Duran is starting in left field again on Tuesday and is batting eighth against Guardians right-hander Ben Lively. Despite hitting just .216 (27-for-125) to begin his first full year in the big leagues, Carter should be held onto in the majority of fantasy leagues as an everyday player when he's healthy.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) said his MRI exam showed only inflammation in his lower back. He will get a cortisone injection on Tuesday and hopes to return to the lineup in a few days. Ultimately, it's good news for Carter, who hasn't played since last Friday, but fantasy managers may still be without him for a few more days. And if Carter still doesn't feel good by then, the Rangers will surely consider placing him on the injured list. With Carter out on Monday, Ezequiel Duran drew the start in left field and hit eighth in the order, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout to drop his season average to .297 in the 7-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. The 21-year-old Carter is an everyday player when healthy despite hitting just .216 (27-for-125) to begin his first full season in the big leagues. Carter has added five homers, 15 RBI, two steals and 23 runs scored in his first 37 games in 2024.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) is undergoing an MRI exam on his back on Monday and is not in the team's starting lineup against the visiting Cleveland Guardians. Carter has now missed the last four games due to a lower-back issues. Depending on the results of his MRI exam, the 21-year-old could be forced to go on the injured list. With Carter out of action yet again, Ezequiel Duran is starting in left field and is batting eighth against Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee. Duran is hitting a strong .310 (22-for-71) on the year but doesn't have a homer and will be a low-upside DFS option out of the eight-hole on Monday. Carter, who won a World Series ring in his first year in the big leagues, has five home runs in 125 at-bats in his first full season, but he's also struggling to a .216/.303/.416 slash line.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The 21-year-old was scratched from Saturday's lineup with stiffness in his lower back and is still not ready to return. Carter has experienced some growing pains in his rookie season as he is slashing .216/.303/.416 with five home runs, 15 RBI, 23 runs scored and two steals. Robbie Grossman will start in left field and bat sixth in Carter's absence. Grossman is an uninspiring DFS play on Sunday as he is batting .200 with no homers in 75 at-bats in 2024. He has also never recorded a hit at Coors Field in his career.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Colorado Rockies due to lower-back stiffness. The 21-year-old has a history of lower back issues, and the Rangers are being cautious with their young outfielder. He is considered day-to-day for now, with his next chance to suit up being the series finale on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. Carter is slashing .216/.303/.416 with five home runs, 15 RBI, 23 runs, and two stolen bases over 142 plate appearances in 2024. Travis Jankowski replaced Carter in Saturday's lineup and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the Rangers' 8-3 loss to the Rockies. Jankowski would see an uptick in playing time if Carter were to miss any games, but he is mainly a speculative add in AL-Only league formats after slashing .239/.286/.326 over 25 games in 2024.

Rookie outfielder Evan Carter is out of the Texas Rangers lineup on Saturday night against the Colorado Rockies. Carter will head to the bench, ceding left field to veteran Travis Jankowski. Carter is hitting .216 with five home runs, two stolen bases, 15 RBI and 23 runs scored. This will be Carter's first day off in May, where he has struggled to a .206 batting average with no home runs, four RBI, and 13 strikeouts in his last 37 plate appearances. Expect the rookie to be back in the lineup for the series finale tomorrow,

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The rookie outfielder will sit out for the third time this week against a left-handed starting pitcher. Ezequiel Duran will get the start in left field and bat seventh versus Austin Gomber. Carter has the potential to be a solid big league player, but his fantasy value is limited with him stuck in a platoon role.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. This looks like a routine rest day for the rookie outfielder against a left-handed starter. Wyatt Langford will handle left field, with Andrew Knizner getting the start at designated hitter versus left-hander Andrew Abbott. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Carter out.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter blasted a solo home run in the team's 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night. Carter got the Rangers scoring started in the top of the fourth inning when he connected with an 81.1 mph changeup from Braves starter Darius Vines for a 398-foot home run. That was his third home run of the year. The 21-year-old has hit a bit of a rookie wall through the first 20 games of the season, hitting just .211 with three home runs and seven RBI. While he might not be a capable fantasy starter right now, he should pick it up as the season goes on. He could be a great buy-low option.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter, first baseman Jared Walsh and infielder Josh Smith are all starting on the bench on Thursday against the visiting Oakland Athletics and left-hander JP Sears. Carter is by far the biggest fantasy name of the trio. The 21-year-old youngster will take his second game off of the season. After really impressing in his first 23 regular-season games for the Rangers before helping them win the World Series last fall, Carter has been sluggish at the plate early on in 2024, going 7-for-37 (.189) with a home run, three RBI, and a steal. The good news is he's walked (nine times) more than he's struck out (six times) in his first 11 games. Rookie Wyatt Langford is in left and hitting third, Ezequiel Duran is at first and batting sixth, and Davis Wendzel is at third and hitting seventh for Texas on Thursday against Sears.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter finds himself on the bench for the start of Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Aaron Civale. Carter has drawn a league-leading six walks in the first five games of the season, but he's also hitless in his 22 plate appearances with an RBI, stolen base, five runs scored and two strikeouts, so the Rangers are giving him an early blow so that he can clear his head. The 21-year-old should be able to rebound eventually for his fantasy managers, but you may want to keep him out of lineups until he shows signs of life. Rookie Wyatt Langford is getting the start in left field on Wednesday and is hitting in the three-hole for Texas. Last year's fourth overall pick out of Florida has gone 6-for-21 (.286) with a triple and three RBI in his first five big-league games in 2024.