Rangers' Lowe strains oblique, could miss Opening Day

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy revealed Friday that first baseman Nathaniel Lowe suffered a right oblique strain and could miss Opening Day, according to Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News.

While the Rangers don't yet have a firm read on how long Lowe will be out - Bochy only said he'd miss "a little while" - their initial timeline suggests an absence of around three-to-four weeks, according to Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today. That would put him in line to potentially miss at least the first week of the season.

"It sucks," Lowe told McFarland. "(I'm) climbing up the list on creating value for myself and making money, and now I'm getting paid to do nothing, it's pretty slimy. I don't love it, it's something that's new for me. We'll take it in stride."

Lowe added he doesn't know when he sustained the injury. He said it's likely like the result of "wear and tear" after being one of his team's most reliable players over the last three years, appearing in at least 157 games a season since 2021.

The 28-year-old followed up his Silver Slugger-winning 2022 campaign by hitting .262/.360/.414 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs in 161 games for the Rangers last season. He also clubbed three home runs during their World Series run and won his first Gold Glove after tallying three defensive runs saved at first base.

If he's unable to start the Rangers' season opener against the Chicago Cubs on March 28, Texas could turn to former All-Star Jared Walsh, who's in camp on a minor-league deal, at first base. Other options include utility player Justin Foscue, who's on their 40-man roster, and non-roster invitee Blaine Crim.

Texas was already facing the prospect of opening its season without star shortstop Corey Seager, who's recovering from offseason hernia surgery, and third baseman Josh Jung, who strained his calf early in camp. However, Bochy expressed optimism about both players' rehab earlier this week, according to MLB.com.