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

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.

Joc Pederson is expected to be back in the Texas Rangers lineup Sunday after missing 52 games because of a broken right hand.