Why Rangers' Evan Carter is getting more opportunities against left-handed pitching

ARLINGTON - What’s that they say - Every obstacle presents an opportunity, or something like that? 

Well, Wyatt Langford’s obstacle is Evan Carter’s opportunity. 

While Langford is making progress in his recovery from a strained forearm muscle, the Rangers still aren’t sure if he’ll be able to return on Saturday, the first day he’s eligible, or if it will be later. In the interim, it gives Evan Carter more chances to finally have some success against left-handed pitching and break the narrative that he’s not a viable option against them. But the Rangers don’t have many options to allow them to sit him out. With Langford out, the Rangers have to play Sam Haggerty or Ezequiel Duran in left with the other at second base. It does leave Alejandro Osuna on the bench, but, like Carter, he is a left-handed hitter.

And Carter’s defense has been so good in center that manager Skip Schumaker is convinced he can help the team, even if he doesn’t produce offensively.

“Definitely at home, just because of the bigger outfield, and he's so good playing center field and I do believe in run prevention just like I believe in run production,” Schumaker said. “He's as good as anybody in center field. So yeah, with Wyatt out, he's going to get a lot more opportunity against lefties.”
 
On Monday, Carter started against New York lefty Max Fried, the second straight lefty against whom he’s started. If Langford isn’t back by next week, he could get a start against the Yankees' Ryan Weathers, too. 

Now the next step: To have a breakthrough against them. Carter was 0 for 15 against lefties to start 2026 and finished the season in an 0 for 16 against lefties last year. He began the day 5 for 75 (.067) against lefties for his career.