Guzman expected back Thursday in Houston

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers expect first baseman Ronald Guzmán to come off the injured list on Thursday in Houston. Manager Chris Woodward said the club will have discussions about the corresponding roster move.

Rougned Odor will not be a part of those discussions despite his offensive struggles at the plate.

“I don’t think so,” Woodward said. “No. I would be a fraud if I didn’t back what he is doing. There is nothing that’s shown he has changed in any way. Obviously, it gets you as a player. You want to be successful, he cares about this team, his teammates, the organization. He wants to be successful. He has done everything we have asked, offensively, defensively, his character.”

Odor entered Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays in an 0-for-21 skid, which dropped his overall average to .122. That was the lowest among all Major League players with at least 70 at-bats.

Odor also has an option remaining, and the Rangers have viable replacements at second base in veterans Logan Forsythe and Danny Santana. Both filled in when Odor was on the injured list with a sprained right knee.

But Woodward is standing fast in his faith that Odor will get going. Odor had as good of a Spring Training as anybody on the team, hitting .318 with a .659 slugging percentage in 17 Cactus League games.

“I always tell players, I don’t judge them but I evaluate them more when they struggle,” Woodward said. “This is probably the most he has struggled and my evaluation of him is as glowing as it was when he was good in Spring Training. I am proud of him for that. He is too important for us. We need him.

“He is working on things. He knows he has to make adjustments to have success. But his overall who he is hasn’t changed. He’s still positive, he is a great teammate, he is still listening, open to criticism. He has been fantastic.”

Huang sent down
The Rangers have optioned rookie right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang to Triple-A Nashville to make room for left-hander Drew Smyly, who was activated off the injured list Sunday.

Huang has appeared in just two games for the Rangers. In 3 1/3 innings, he has allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks with one strikeout.

The Rangers acquired Huang from the D-backs for reliever Jake Diekman on July 31 of last season, and the Taiwan native has some impressive Minor League numbers. Over five seasons, Huang owns a 3.11 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He is also averaging 7.2 hits, 2.9 walks and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

“He is intriguing,” Woodward said. “He has a lot of weapons. I think his best pitch is his changeup. He has an elite fastball, 94-95 [mph] with significant spin on it. The changeup is a really plus pitch, and he can command his curve ball and slider. He can get lefties out as much as righties. That’s intriguing because not many guys can do that.”

Rangers beat
• Guzman was 2-for-4 with a home run in his first medical rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Saturday night.

• The Rangers' four Minor League teams were a combined 68-47 going into Sunday for a .591 winning percentage that is the highest of any MLB farm system.

• Class A Hickory shortstop Chris Seise, who was the 29th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, has been placed on the injured list with a left shoulder injury. Seise missed all of last season after having surgery on his right shoulder.