Rua went 1-for-3 with a a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

This was the first homer for Rua, who's had a slow start to the season. If not for injuries, he and his .150 (6-for-40) batting average might be on the bench. Delino DeSheilds Jr. (hand) will be out until mid-May and Drew Robinson is needed to cover for him in center field. Otherwise, Rua may not be getting regular at-bats.

Rua is not in the lineup against Houston on Saturday, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rua will head to the bench after starting the first two games of the season. He was unable to collect a hit in either of those contests, going 0-for-6 with one strikeouts against Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel. Manager Jeff Banister decided to give Drew Robinson the start for Saturday's game against right-hander Lance McCullers.

Rua was named the Rangers' starting left fielder Friday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rua was expected to platoon left field with Drew Robinson following Willie Calhoun's return to Triple-A Round Rock earlier this month, but instead will start the season as the Rangers' starting left fielder. The 28-year-old has an uninspiring career slash line of .246/.305/.388 over four partial seasons with Texas, and had 52 strikeouts over 129 at-bats in 2017.

Rua is under consideration for an everyday left fielder role, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

EDGE Analysis

After Willie Calhoun was sent down, the assumption was that Rua would form the short side of a platoon with Drew Robinson. With a career .246/.305/.388 line, Rua is unlikely to be much more than a placeholder until Calhoun returns (probably in early May). Still, an everyday role in a hitter-friendly park would give him some fantasy value in the meantime, especially in deep leagues. Rua has 17 homers and 12 steals in 608 career plate appearances, respectable if unspectacular numbers.

Rua went 1-for-4 and hit his team-leading third home run of the spring in Thursday's game against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Rua is poised to be the right-handed part of the Rangers' planned platoon in left field. Drew Robinson will be the lefty in that partnership. Rua hasn't shown much pop at the higher levels of the minors and nothing about his major-league track record makes him a must-have fantasy option.

Rua is a leading candidate to play left field to start the season following the demotion of Willie Calhoun, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Calhoun is still expected to be the Rangers' primary left fielder after a month or so, but this at least boosts Rua's value in the short term. However, the most likely scenario is a platoon between him and left-handed hitting Drew Robinson. This would leave Rua on the bench more often than not, though his past success against lefties (.716 OPS versus lefties as opposed to a .652 OPS against righties) suggest he could be a low-cost streaming option in deeper leagues that allow for daily roster adjustments.

Rua and the Rangers avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $870,000 contract Tuesday, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rua appeared in 63 games for the Rangers last season, though he finished the season with an unsightly 36.1 percent strikeout rate to go along with his .217/.294/.333 slash line in 144 plate appearances. The 27-year-old also saw a drop-off in his production against lefties in 2017, hitting just .262/.318/.377 in 67 plate appearances. He'll likely serve as first base and corner outfield depth in 2018, though the Rangers may not show much patience with Rua if his struggles at the plate continue.

Rua started in left field and went 1-for-3 in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

Rua recorded one of only four Rangers hits on the day, as Athletics lefty Sean Manaea turned in a dominant start. With the Rangers having shut down several regulars for the season due to minor injuries, Rua should be in line for some extra at-bats during the team's final three contests.

Rua went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI in Sunday's 16-7 loss to the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Though he served as the Rangers' No. 9 hitter while picking up the start in left field, Rua paced the team on hits for the afternoon, turning in a double and a pair of singles. Rua could be a regular presence in the lineup against left-handed pitching for the rest of the season, but unless the Rangers are scheduled to face a southpaw-heavy slate in a given week, he won't make for an enticing fantasy play outside of AL-only formats.

Rua was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Rua played his way out of a semi-regular role over the first two months and has spent nearly the entire second half in the minors to this point. He will be up for good now, but Rua will likely only see sporadic opportunities against left-handed pitching over the remaining weeks of the season. The 27-year-old is arb eligible this winter and could be non-tendered.