M.A.S.H Unit: A Rangers Injury Recap

In case you haven't noticed, the Texas Rangers' projected starting lineup isn't doing so well in the health department.

For the sake of full-out panic, let's take a look at the projected starting lineup for Opening Day, and we'll detail who of the bunch has had a healthy spring training as we're within a week of Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies and Cliff Lee to open the season.

1. Shin-Soo Choo, LF — Choo has dealt with an elbow issue all spring and even needed an injection. He played in the field for the first time in a good while over the weekend and appears set, but who knows nowadays?

2. Elvis Andrus, SS — Thanks to a lazy off-season and a lack of a throwing program, Andrus has been shut down twice this spring because of forearm stiffness. The Rangers are fairly certain it's just fatigue as tests revealed no structural damage. Hopefully it stays that way.

3. Prince Fielder, 1B — Let's be blunt, folks. Judging solely on physical appearance, you'd think Fielder would be a prime candidate for injury. But actually, the big man has missed one game since the 2009 season. Amazing. And sure enough, Fielder's been healthy this spring.

4. Adrian Beltre, 3B — Hopefully it's just the normal nagging Beltre upper legs, but he's dealt with a hamstring issue much of the spring. There's not a tougher guy in baseball than Beltre, so you needn't worry too much. But he is 35.

5. Alex Rios, RF — Also one of the most durable players in the game, Rios has had some minor dings this spring — a toe and a strained intercostal muscle. He'll be ready for Opening Day, but he's missed some time this spring.

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6. Mitch Moreland, DH — Moreland surprisingly was back in the lineup this past weekend after it seemed like a certainty he'd start the season on DL after suffering a strained oblique. Those type of things can creep back up, so hopefully his doesn't.

7. Geovany Soto, C — He's out for 10-12 weeks and will undergo knee surgery on Wednesday.

8. Jurickson Profar, 2B — He's out for 10-12 weeks with a torn muscle in his shoulder that will not require surgery.

9. Leonys Martin, CF — He's been healthy this spring. That's about the only positive you can say about him.

RHP Yu Darvish, SP — Darvish was officially ruled out for Opening Day on Tuesday morning and is heading back to DFW early to see back specialist Dr. Drew Dossett because of his stiff neck.

So there you go, folks. Out of 10 guys expected to be part of the Rangers' starting lineup on Monday, two have gone through the spring without health issues and three are definitely out of the lineup for Monday's opener.

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