Texas Rangers

Tonight's Rangers-A's lineups

The Rangers are facing a left-hander for a third straight game and have two more straight ahead. Manager Ron Washington needed a right-handed-hitting No. 5 hitter with Bengie Molina on the bench, so he went with Jorge Cantu. Yes, that Jorge Cantu. He's beyond due for an RBI and will get a full load of at-bats tonight against Brett Anderson.

A's lineup vs. RHP Tommy Hunter: Coco Crisp, cf; Daric Barton, 1b; Kurt Suzuki, c; Jack Cust, lf; Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3b; Jeff Larish, dh; Mark Ellis, 2b; Rajai Davis, rf; Cliff Pennington, ss.

Rangers lineup vs. LHP Brett Anderson: Elvis Andrus, ss; Michael Young, 3b; Josh Hamilton, lf; Vladimir Guerrero, dh; Jorge Cantu, 1b; David Murphy, rf; Matt Treanor, c; Andres Blanco, 2b; Julio Borbon, cf.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers out on Manny Ramirez

A baseball source said that the Texas Rangers put in a claim for Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez but were informed by Major League Baseball that another club had won the claim.

The decision to put in a claim for Ramirez, who has 554 career homers but also is considered to be clubhouse poison in some circles, had several different components. He would make the Rangers a better team, especially against left-handed pitching and because of his vast playoff experience. The Rangers could have also blocked a potential playoff foe from getting Ramirez.

Instead, the Rangers were blocked. The Chicago White Sox, reportedly, put in a claim and were trying to work out a deal with the Dodgers. The White Sox have a worse record than the Rangers and were higher in the pecking order on claims.

Another thing about the decision: It shows that the new ownership group is prepared to spend its money if it makes the club better. Rangers Baseball Express, headed by Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg, has had the team 15 days. The Ramirez decision is perhaps the first that shows they are armed with cash -- Ramirez would have cost roughly $4 million -- and ready to spend it.

The Dodgers can either work out a trade with the club that claimed Ramirez or pull him back off waivers. They could put him back on waivers should a trade not go through, but they wouldn't be revocable and Ramirez wouldn't clear in time to be eligible for the postseason.

-- Jeff Wilson 

Thursday post-game nuggets

First a couple of things from Cliff Lee. He said he's not tired and he doesn't want any extra time off. He said his off-season conditioning prepares him for this time of year.

Lee was really only upset with one pitch, the changeup Delmon Young hit for a three-run homer in the second inning. Lee said his problems recently have everything to do with location.

And for the nuggets ...

Lee has lost three-consecutive starts for just the second time in the last three seasons.

His ERA over the last three games is 9.33.

Michael Kirkman has retired 15 of the 19 batters he's faced in the big leagues.

Vladimir Guerrero has eight RBIs in the last six games.

- Anthony Andro

The Rangers Ian Kinsler headed to Frisco this weekend

The Texas second baseman will go out on a rehab assignment either Saturday or Sunday, and will not join the Rangers when they play a three-game series in Kansas City beginning Monday. He's expected to join the club in Minnesota Sept. 3 when the Rangers and Twins start a three-game series.

- Anthony Andro

Manny Ramirez is on Rangers' radar

The Rangers haven't ruled out adding to their roster in the next week, and Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has been considered as a possbility.

The Rangers would have to make a waiver claim on Ramirez, which they haven't yet done, and Ramirez would have to slide past all the teams with a worse record than the Rangers. The White Sox, one of those teams, reportedly have made a claim and are interested in Ramirez. If he did get to the Rangers, they would have to work out a trade with Los Angeles.

General manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers are content with what they have but are always looking for upgrades. Manager Ron Washington echoed that. But Ramirez would give the Rangers a big right-handed bat down the stretch, which could be key against a bevy of Oakland left-handed pitchers. He could play left field, though he would likely be removed late in games for a better defender, and he has as much playoff experience as anyone in the game not named Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.

The Rangers' interest in free-agent outfielder Brad Hawpe has waned.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers Thursday pre-game notes

Dustin Nippert will begin his rehab assigment Friday night with Frisco. He'll also pitch Saturday for Frisco and then Wednesday for Oklahoma City.

Jon Daniels on the possibility of making more moves: "I really like our team. I would never rule out trying to improve, but I think we've got the pieces internally more than likely that we'll try to go with."

Josh Hamilton's bushy hair is no more. He's sporting a much shorter 'do because he grew tired of trying to take care of it.

Frank Francisco is available tonight, but manager Ron Washington said he'd like to stay away from him if he could.

- Anthony Andro

Rangers vs. Twins Thursday lineups

Twins (Francisco Liriano)

1. Denard Span, CF

2. Orlando Hudson, 2B

3. Joe Mauer, C

4. Jason Kubel, RF

5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B

6. Jim Thome, DH

7. Delmon Young, LF

8. Danny Valencia, 3B

9. J.J. Hardy, SS

Rangers (Cliff Lee)

1. Elvis Andrus, SS

2. Michael Young, 3B

3. Josh Hamilton, LF

4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH

5. Bengie Molina, C

6. David Murphy, RF

7. Jorge Cantu, 1B

8. Andres Blanco, 2B

9. Julio Borbon, CF

- Anthony Andro

Wednesday Rangers post-game nuggets

Andres Blanco was sporting a couple of souvenirs from his headfirst double in the fourth inning Wednesday night. Blanco had a cut on the right side of his forehead and the right side of his chin. But he did collect two hits for the second-consecutive night and raised his average to .254.

And now the nuggets ...

The Rangers are now 11-11 in August, and the four-game winnig streak is the longest since they won 11-straight June 12-24.

C.J. Wilson is 6-0 with a 2.29 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break.

Josh Hamilton is only the second left-handed hitter to have multiple 30-homer seasons for the Rangers. Rafael Palmeiro is the other.

The Rangers bullpen hasn't allowed a run in eight innings in this series.

The Rangers are 6-0 when both Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero homer in a game.

- Anthony Andro

The Rangers Matt Harrison talks about save

Matt Harrison didn't even know he recorded a save against Pittsburgh on June 23 until someone told him after the game. He pitched the final three innings of a 13-3 game to notch career save No. 1.

He knew what was on the line to get career save No. 2 Wednesday.

"Tonight was a little bit different," Harrison said. "I knew that I was the last guy in the bullpen and it was my job to come in there and finish it off. I was a little more amped up and letting it rip out there. I was trying to keep the ball down and good things happened."

Good things have been happening for him a lot lately. He's now only allowed two earned runs in his last 11 appearances. His ERA of 3.76 is the lowest it's been since April.

- Anthony Andro

Wednesday pre-game notes

Jorge Cantu is going to get some extended playing time, as tonight marks the first of what should be five-consecutive starts for him. The Rangers face five-consecutive left-handers, beginning with Brian Duensing. Cantu has hit just .250 with no RBIs since he was acquired from Florida. He said he's hoping the increased playing time will help him with his timing.

David Murphy is getting a break after starting the last 19 games. Manager Ron Washington said Murphy would get another day off against a left-hander.

Frank Francisco is throwing today for the first time since his cortisone shot. His availability for tonight's game will be determined after that.

- Anthony Andro