Rangers: Adrian Beltre's MRI clean

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ARLINGTON, Texas -- An MRI revealed no structural damage to Adrian Beltre's left shoulder, and the third baseman started for the Texas Rangers on Thursday night.

Beltre has inflammation in the shoulder, and initially wasn't in the starting lineup against the Cleveland Indians. However, after meeting with manager Ron Washington, Beltre was the designated hitter and was put in the cleanup spot.

"He strong-armed me," Washington said jokingly.

Beltre wasn't the only Ranger injured during Wednesday's game. Josh Hamilton, who came out in the eighth inning with left knee soreness, received an injection in the knee after the game and will not play Thursday. He likely will be ready to return Friday.

Mike Olt, who replaced Beltre in the fifth inning Wednesday but was removed in the seventh after limping to first on an infield hit, had an MRI that confirmed plantar fasciitis in his right foot. He will see a foot specialist, and club officials say he's out a minimum of 10 to 14 days.

The news on Beltre was good for Texas, as he's been one of the club's most consistent performers all season.

"They assumed I wasn't going to feel good based on what they saw (Wednesday) night," Beltre said. "But today is a different day."

Beltre entered Thursday hitting .318, among the top 5 in the AL. He has 32 home runs, 92 RBIs (seventh in the AL) and is second in the league in total bases.

But he's also done the job with his glove at third base, making the difficult plays look routine and saving runs. His WAR (wins above replacement) entering Thursday is 5.6, fourth in the AL behind Mike Trout (10.4), Robinson Cano (6.2) and Miguel Cabrera (5.7).

Texas catcher Mike Napoli worked out with the Rangers after catching nine innings in a rehab assignment for Double-A Frisco on Wednesday night.

Napoli, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 11 with a left quadriceps strain, will be the designated hitter for Frisco on Friday and could be activated Saturday.

"My timing is almost there," Napoli said. "I felt good behind the plate."

Rangers reliever Robbie Ross will throw in the bullpen on Friday. The left-hander has been on the disabled list since Aug. 30 with a strained left forearm.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Richard Durrett

ESPNDallas.com

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Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.