Prince Fielder an RBI machine for Rangers early this season

Prince Fielder understands the responsibilities that come with batting in the middle of the Texas Rangers’ order. His No. 1 job is to bring home runs.

Through the first eight games of the season, he is going that as well as anyone in the American League. He entered Tuesday tied with reigning MVP Josh Donaldson and Player of the Week Tyler White for the league lead with nine RBIs. He drove in his 10th run Tuesday night with a sacrifice fly in the third inning against the Mariners.

Though he had reached base in all eight games and driven in runs in 6 of 8, Fielder was batting only .214 after opening 6 for 28. But five of his hits and all 10 RBIs have been with runners in scoring position.

“That’s my job, to produce runs,” said Fielder, the Rangers’ designated hitter. “If I’m locked in in those situations, I’m OK. It’s when no one’s on base when you go into lala land.”

Fielder drove in two Monday as the Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3 in the opener of a three-game series. The Rangers were 5 for 12 with runners in scoring position and scored three times with two outs.

Manager Jeff Banister said that the offense has been doing a better job this season when runs are to be had.

“Last year at this time we struggled with those types of situations,” Banister said. “Prince has done a really nice job of capitalizing when he has those chance to push a run across for us.”

Darvish confirmed

Right-hander Yu Darvish will throw live batting practice Wednesday, as originally scheduled, as he takes the next big step in his return from Tommy John surgery.

He will do so at Globe Life Park, going through a pregame warm-up as he would before a normal start and then throwing two 15-pitch innings. He will be off Thursday, throw Friday and take Friday off before another live BP on Saturday.

Darvish is expected to throw three live BPs before heading out on a rehab assignment.

Outfielder Josh Hamilton will return to Arlington on Thursday to continue his rehab from left knee surgery. He has been working out at extended spring training in Arizona during the Rangers’ road trip.

Chris Gimenez is throwing and the area in his left leg that was infected is improving, and fellow catcher Michael McKenry caught five innings of an extended spring game as he comes back from an abdominal strain.

Griffin back to work

No. 5 starter A.J. Griffin is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday against the Mariners, and it could be his last start for 10 days.

The Rangers have an off day Monday, their first of the season, and can use it to skip Griffin’s next turn. If he is skipped, he wouldn’t be needed again until April 23 at Chicago.

It’s doubtful he would complain. Little seems to bother the right-hander, who allowed three runs in six innings Friday at Anaheim in a 7-3 victory in his first start since Sept. 24, 2013.

“It was good to know I can still go out there and compete at this level,” Griffin said. “I wouldn’t say there were any doubts. I expect good things from me each time I go out there. I’ve always been kind of the guy that doesn’t worry.”

Griffin said that the 88 pitches he threw were “a good amount of pitches.” Many of them came with runners on base, so the stress level impacted how he felt after six innings. But he expects to get stronger and be able to go deeper into games as the season winds on.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 10:22 PM with the headline "Prince Fielder an RBI machine for Rangers early this season."