Adrian Beltre To DH On Wednesday

All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre will not be playing third base in the Texas Rangers’ final regular season game Wednesday afternoon in Oakland.

Beltre aggravated his strained left shoulder in the series finale with the Angels on Sunday, when he leaped to snag a line drive off the bat of Mark Trumbo. Manager Ron Washington believes Beltre could play in the field if absolutely necessary--and Beltre told Washington he could--but Washington has opted to be cautious where Game 162 is concerned.
 
"It was a quick turnaround," Washington said, per ESPN Dallas. "He took some grounders yesterday and looked good, but with limited sleep and a game this quickly, I wanted to give him another day. He'll be ready for the playoffs."

Beltre said this week that the shoulder is still a bit bothersome, that it “pinches” when he raises his arm above parallel, but he doesn’t anticipate the injury being any major impediment in the playoffs.

"It's a little better than it was," Beltre said. "I'm making adjustments. It's not something that will keep me from playing defense in the playoffs."

In Beltre’s absence, Michael Young will play third base on Wednesday.