Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is not starting Game 2 of the team's ALDS series against the Toronto Blue Jays -- but manager Jeff Banister hasn't ruled him out.
Beltre strained his lower back while sliding into second base in the first inning of Game 1 Thursday. He stayed in the game and hit an RBI single in the third, but struggled to run the bases and left between innings.
Banister said Beltre is not well enough to play nine innings Friday, but would not rule out using him.
"There is some improvement," Banister is quoted as saying in The Dallas Morning News. "I've seen him walking around; to me that's an improvement. Yesterday, he was putting one foot in front of another, if you want to call it walking, you can call it walking."
Hanser Alberto will start at third base and bat ninth for Texas. Mitch Moreland is starting at first base in place of Mike Napoli while Chris Giminez will catch left-hander Cole Hamels.
The Rangers won Game 1 of the series 5-3 on Thursday. Game 3 and 4 are scheduled for Sunday and Monday.
