Next Up: the Texas Rangers

Luis Mendoza is supposed to take the mound for the Texas Rangers first. Mendoza is a baby pitcher from Mexico making his eighth major league appearance. He made three starts last year-the last one ending when he took a line drive to the knee in the second inning and was done-and has made one, so far this year-a loss to Toronto. He's got a good sinking fastball but that's about it. He also has trouble with his command, fatigue, and keeping his composure.

Jason Jennings is scheduled to go on Saturday. It's Jennings' first year in the American league (after seven in the National) and it hasn't started off that well for him at all. He's lost all three of his starts this season. He has a very good sinker (that he can throw in the low nineties), a slider, and a change-up. Endurance has generally been a problem for him and so far this season he hasn't been able to get past the fifth inning (going only four and two-thirds in his last two starts.) He's given up at least one home run in each of his starts this year and has been easier for lefties to hit.

Kevin Millwood is Sunday's pitcher and the Rangers' ace. He's got a fastball with a lot of movement, a slider, a change-up and a curveball. He's very purposeful in his pitching and likes to challenge hitters. In the past, he's had trouble getting lefties out. His attention hasn't always been what it should be and as a result he gets run on a lot and appears to be distracted when there are runners on base. He's started off this season really well though. In his first three starts he went six, eight, and seven innings never allowing more than two runs. His last outing, however, wasn't as good. He went only five innings and gave up four runs (all of them earned.)

Although not official, Kason Gabbard is the likely starter for Monday's game. So far this season he's had a win and two no-decisions. He's got a fastball, curveball, change-up, and a slider. He doesn't, however, have a strike-out pitch and, as a result, the ball is put in play off him a lot. He also tends to miss high when he misses.

The two best hitters on the team are probably their center fielders, Josh Hamilton and David Murphy. So far this year Hamilton has twenty hits, five doubles, a triple and three homeruns. He's walked eight times and struck out seven. He also has fifteen RBIs and eight runs to his name. Murphy has eighteen hits on the season, seven doubles, one home run, six RBIs, three stolen bases and thirteen strike outs.