Notes: Facing lefties still tough for Calhoun

Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun made a confession on Tuesday. He admitted it has not been easy facing left-handed pitching since his recovery from a fractured jaw in Spring Training.

Calhoun was hit in the face by a pitch thrown by Dodgers left-hander Julio Urías on March 8, ending his Spring Training. He was ready physically when Summer Camp opened at the end of June but getting comfortable again against lefties is taking time.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously getting back in there against lefties, I always have that thought in my head about getting hit in the face,” Calhoun said. “I’m trying to take it a little slow on lefties right now. I’m starting to get comfortable.”

Calhoun was not in the starting lineup against Athletics starter Jesús Luzardo on Tuesday. The Athletics also have left-hander Sean Manaea throwing on Wednesday.

Calhoun started against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland on the last homestand, but not against Arizona’s Madison Bumgarner last Wednesday or Drew Smyly of the Giants on Sunday.

Calhoun said he has been fortunate to be able to talk openly and honestly with manager Chris Woodward about how tough it has been to face left-handers.

"You can't disregard it,” Woodward said. “It's something that's pretty traumatic. He's dealt with it. He continues to deal with it. I can't ignore that. If I do, then shame on me for creating a problem that I could easily navigate through and help him walk through. He wants to play all the time; he's a tough kid. But I've got to do the right thing for him and put him in good matchups."

Calhoun hit .225 against lefties last season but with seven home runs in 102 at-bats for a .500 slugging percentage. He is 0-for-3 against them this season but came through with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly against Giants lefty Tyler Anderson on Sunday.

“That was probably the most comfortable left-on-left at-bat I have had in a while,” Calhoun said. “I am slowly getting the confidence back against lefties and I am sure over time it will wear off. Right now, winning the little battles like that makes me feel good. Slowly it is feeling better and better every time I face them.”

Odor could face injured list
Second baseman Rougned Odor was absent from the lineup for the second straight game with tightness in his right oblique muscle. The Rangers don’t want to put Odor on the injured list but may do so if he is not ready in the next few days

The Rangers are hoping Odor will be ready by Thursday, the finale of a three-game series in Oakland, or Friday when they open a three-game series against the Angels.

“He hit in the cage, he threw today,” Woodward said. “It was still a little bit tight, a little bit sore. Doesn’t make any sense to rush that and hurry back. He’s hopefully a couple days [away]; best case scenario, he plays that third game.”

As far as the injured list, Woodward said, “If we feel he can’t play for the next week or so, we will do it. But if he can play at the end of this series or the beginning of the next series, I think we hold off.”

Rodríguez returns
The Rangers activated left-handed reliever Joely Rodríguez off the injured list for Tuesday’s game against the Athletics. To make room, the Rangers placed first baseman Greg Bird on the IL with a strained right calf muscle.

Rodríguez was signed in the winter to a two-year contract to be the Rangers' left-handed setup reliever. Rodríguez appeared in five games in Spring Training but showed up for Summer Camp with a strained lat muscle and did not pitch in any intrasquad games.

Bird was added to the 30-man roster on Friday and did not play against the Giants this past weekend. He was placed on the IL retroactive to Saturday.

Rangers beat
• Kyle Gibson pitches Wednesday on seven days' rest. Gibson is 9-17 with a 5.38 ERA in 31 starts on six or more days' rest in his career. Gibson said he threw a two-inning bullpen session on Sunday in an attempt to stay sharp.

“There are always times where, even during a normal season, off-days give you an extra day or two days,” Gibson said. “That won’t be the first thing out of my mouth if something doesn’t go well tomorrow and it won’t be the first thing out of my mouth if I feel really good and throw really well.”

• Tuesday marked the 10th anniversary of the Rangers' current ownership group led by Ray Davis and Bob Simpson winning control of the team by way of an auction held in Fort Worth bankruptcy court. The group, put together by Chuck Greenberg and including Nolan Ryan, was approved unanimously by Major League Baseball owners on Aug. 12.