Adrian Beltre Injury: Updates on Rangers 3B's Back and Return

Adrian Beltre is back in the lineup after dealing with a back strain that kept him out of Games 2 and 3 of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Beltre was originally ruled out for Game 4 but was later added to the lineup, batting third and playing at third base, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Beltre took batting practice and did some light running before deciding he was good to play in the potential series-clincher.

"What are you going to do, say no to Willis Reed?" Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Rosenthal noted on Oct. 8 that the Rangers were astonished he was able to swing a bat and drive in a run, given his state. "Assistant GM Thad Levine guessed Beltre had one swing in him. And we saw it," Rosenthal reported.

According to Jason Beck of MLB.com at the time, Beltre could "barely move" as he was standing behind second base between innings at the Rogers Centre.

Gordon Edes of ESPN.com noted the All-Star third baseman was emotional after he came out of the contest. Also from Edes, who cited Texas Rangers public relations man John Blake, Beltre was initially injured following a first-inning slide into second base.

Beltre lined an RBI single to center field in the third inning off Toronto starter David Price to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead, but he essentially waddled to first base because of the injury.

The Rangers have battled their way into the postseason despite injuries all year, but Beltre's status is worth watching in a potential ALCS matchup against the Houston Astros or Kansas City Royals. The 36-year-old finished the season on fire, hitting 10 of his 18 home runs between August and October.

Texas does have solid depth with Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder surrounding Beltre in the lineup, but his value offensively and defensively give an added boost to the Rangers.