Returning from injury, Texas Rangers’ Nathaniel Lowe could be activated this weekend

ATLANTA — The Rangers may be starting to get the old gang back together.

After a week split between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock on a rehab assignment, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe could be activated, perhaps as early as this weekend. Lowe has missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from an early March oblique muscle strain. He was not in the lineup at Round Rock on Friday, though there was no reported health issue.

Manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged the club could bring back Lowe sooner than had been originally expected. But, Bochy said, it should not be interpreted as a decision based on the struggles of fellow left-handed hitting first baseman Jared Walsh. Walsh, who was not in the lineup against lefty Chris Sale on Friday, is in a 4-for-32 (.125) slump that includes nine strikeouts in the last 15 at-bats. The Rangers have split early season at-bats at first base between Walsh, who was bothered by neurological issues the last two years, and Ezequiel Duran. They began Friday’s game at Atlanta with a .629 OPS from the position, which ranked 18th in the majors.

“I know what you are getting at, Bochy said Friday. “But we would not bring [Lowe] back unless we thought he was ready. And unless he thought he was ready, too. I’ve been looking at reports. He’s been playing well. He’s playing good first base. He’s moving around well with the bat.”

Lowe entered Friday with 24 plate appearances (20 at-bats) over six games between the two minor league affiliates. He was 3 for 20 (.150) with a homer over the two minor league stops. He walked three times but did not have a strikeout. The Rangers’ initial projections had Lowe to take somewhere between 30-40 at-bats while on rehab.

“That’s why you pencil these things in,” Bochy said.

What’s unclear is how the Rangers would manage their roster. Carrying two left-handed hitting players limited to first base and designated hitter in Lowe and Walsh could present some challenges. On the other hand, the upcoming schedule could allow them to go with a roster more heavily tilted toward lefties. After facing Atlanta’s Chris Sale on Friday, they weren’t scheduled to face another lefty until a week from Sunday against Cincinnati’s Andrew Abbott.

If they chose to carry both Walsh and Lowe for a while, they could potentially option right-handed hitting infielder Davis Wendzel back to the minors. Wendzel, who was the DH on Friday, entered the day 0 for 8.

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