Sore knee puts Rangers’ Hamilton on DL

Josh Hamilton returned to the 15-day disabled list Thursday after soreness in his left knee didn’t improve after four days out of the Texas Rangers’ lineup.

The early thought is that Hamilton’s knee will be good enough for the September stretch run. The knee is structurally sound, but a bone bruise developed from compensating for hamstring and groin injuries.

Hamilton has played only two of the Rangers’ past eight games. He was on the disabled list recovering from shoulder surgery when acquired in April from the Los Angeles Angels, and he went back on the DL in June with a hamstring strain.

The move is retroactive to Aug. 16 and allowed Will Venable to join the 25-man roster.

“I can really focus on it to get better faster or at least to a point where I can go out there and be OK,” Hamilton said. “We’re all crossing our fingers that I’ll come in in two or three days and it’s, like, 80 percent better.

“I’ve had two arthroscopic surgeries on it during my career, and the way I came back into the game this year was not normal. I really feel like that had a lot to do with it, but I can’t do anything about it. All I can do is do what they tell me and give them feedback on how I’m feeling.”

Hamilton has played in only 38 games, batting .254 (36 for 142) with six homers and 21 RBIs. Venable jumped into the starting lineup at Comerica Park, playing left field.

The left-handed hitter was a platoon player in San Diego, which traded him to the Rangers on Tuesday for minor-league outfielder/catcher Marcus Greene and a player to be named.

A source said that right-hander Jon Edwards, from Keller, will be that player. Currently in Triple A Round Rock, Edwards is on trade waivers. He will head to the Padres once he clears, and in the process will free up a 40-man spot for the Rangers.

Venable was surprised to be dealt after the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, but is excited to be in a playoff hunt. The Rangers entered Thursday four games out in the American League West but only one game out of the second wild card.

Fielder’s return

Prince Fielder was back at Comerica Park for the first time since he was traded for second baseman Ian Kinsler in November 2013, but the Rangers’ designated hitter didn’t see any significance in his return.

He missed the Detroit trip last season, and made the decision during the first game that he would undergo fusion surgery to fix a herniated disk in his neck. If Fielder had any sore feelings about the trade or the way fans reacted as the Tigers lost in the 2013 AL Championship Series, he didn’t show it.

“It’s been awhile,” Fielder said. “Detroit was the last thing on my mind as far as baseball.”

Fielder helped the Tigers reach the postseason in both seasons he played for them after signing a nine-year, $214 million contract. He struggled in the 2013 ALCS, and fans took his comments about moving on from the elimination as an indication that he didn’t care about the game or the Tigers.

“They’re fans, and that’s what they’re supposed to do,” Fielder said. “As far as the comments, what people think of me is none of my business. I didn’t think it was that bad, so I’m fine with it.”

Tigers shuffle rotation

Injuries to left-hander Daniel Norris and right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who both found their way to the DL on Thursday, has shuffled the Tigers’ rotation Saturday and Sunday.

The Rangers will face lefty Randy Wolf, who was acquired in a trade from Toronto, on Saturday, bumping lefty Matt Boyd to Sunday.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Sore knee puts Rangers’ Hamilton on DL."