Evan Grant reports that Vladimir Guerrero will start in the outfield in the first two World Series games in San Francisco. Guerrero played 18 games this season in the outfield, but his defensive skills have eroded some with age.
"You can bet we will figure out a way to get Vlad in the starting lineup," Washington said Sunday during a media availability. "We are not going to take his bat out of the lineup."
Guerrero had the hit that put the Rangers into the World Series, but he has struggled, posting a .267/.283/.333 line in the postseason. To play Guerrero, Ron Washington must bench David Murphy against two right-handed pitchers, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. Murphy hit .311/.388/.509 in the second half of the season and was even better against righties, but he followed that with a sub-par .200/.333/.400 postseason line.
With Guerrero in the lineup, Texas will have Murphy and Jeff Francoeur available to pinch hit late in games.
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