Pederson’s struggles in 2025 with the Rangers have continued in his first two games since returning from a fractured hand.

Since coming off the IL, Joc Pederson is 0-for-8 with 3 K’s, raising fresh concern about the Rangers’ DH spot.

Pederson, who joined Texas on a $37 million, two-year contract during free agency in December, went 0-for-4 -- beginning with a first-inning strikeout with the bases loaded. He batted fifth as the designated hitter for Texas, which beat the Atlanta Braves 8-1 to sweep the three-game series and run its winning streak to six.