Derek Holland News

Second on the list of Best Things to Happen to the Texas Rangers on Sunday Night was work from the visiting clubhouse that Miguel Cabrera's bags were packed for a charter flight to Cleveland.

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus does the antlers gesture toward the dugout after reaching second on a throwing error by the Detroit Tigers Sunday, May 19, 2013.

David Murphy stroked a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth and the Texas Rangers won a slugfest, 11-8, over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in the finale of a four-game set.

Midway through the third inning of Saturday night's game, Rangers manager Ron Washington approached his starting pitcher, 24-year-old Justin Grimm, in the dugout.

The injury originated when Kinsler was hit with a ball in the right side of his rib cage when he stole a base in Houston last weekend, and it was aggravated Thursday when Justin Verlander plunked him.

"I thought Porcello was as good as I've ever seen him," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

The Rangers' chartered flight from Oakland to Dallas on Wednesday evening took an unexpected detour to Albuquerque, N.M., because of the terrible weather in North Texas.

And fittingly, the opener features two of the premier pitchers - Tigers ace Justin Verlander , who has led the American League in strikeouts three of the past four seasons, against Rangers ace Yu Darvish , who leads all major league pitchers in strikeouts this season and is among the leaders in victories.

Throughout last season and even into 2013, the Texas Rangers couldn't get past the Oakland Athletics' bullpen.

OCTOBER 27: Colby Lewis #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning during Game Six of the MLB World Series against the St.

But all had been quiet after the previous five times the Rangers had played at the home ballpark of their division rival, and it nearly was quiet again.

Outside Mitch Moreland, the Rangers offense couldn't muster much of anything vs.

ESPN Dallas' Eric Gilmore writes the Rapid Reaction to the Rangers' 5-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

Louis Cardinals - Edward Mujica has been a pleasant surprise taking over for Jason Motte and Mitchell Boggs as the team's closer.

With far less riding on the outcome Monday, the A's picked up where they left off in their first game against the Texas Rangers in more than seven months.

Right-hander Colby Lewis saw his medical rehabilitation assignment cut short Monday after he was diagnosed with a mild case of triceps tendinitis that will delay his return to the Texas Rangers' rotation.

Oakland likely will stack its lineup with right-handed hitters to go against Texas Rangers left-hander Derek Holland on Tuesday at the Coliseum.

With the Texas Rangers coming to town for a 3-game series, I asked Adam J Morris of Lone Star Ball three burning questions about the team's new cast of characters.

The Rangers return to Oakland for the first meeting between the Rangers and A's since last October's Abortion by the Bay Texas 3, Oakland 4 - Jarrod Parker and the A's bullpen survive after knocking out a rattled Martin Perez - Rangers lead the American League West by a game Texas 1, Oakland 3 - Matt Harrison and the Ranger offense fails to ... (more)

Yoenis Cespedes has had a rough go at the plate lately, and he'll have to pick things up to give the A's a chance at the Rangers this week.