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CWS@MIN: Liriano dominant over seven frames vs. Sox

No matter how deep of a slump Mike Napoli is mired in, the Rangers catcher won't lose his spot in the American League's starting lineup for Tuesday's All-Star Game in Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

That, however, doesn't change the fact that Texas skipper Ron Washington, who will manage the AL All-Stars, wants to see more production from Napoli, who hit .320 with 30 home runs last season.

Napoli is in the midst of 3-for-24 and 11-for-69 stretches, with 26 strikeouts in his last 20 games. The funk has dragged his batting average down to .233.

"I see effort, but when you step in that batter's box, you've got to be relaxed; you have to know what you want to do and just do it," Washington said. "Sometimes you see him in between. Once again, I'm not in the batter's box. That's something he has to do and he has to deal with, he has to figure out. All we can do is give him the work and pat him on the back and let him know we've got confidence in him, but in the end, it's up to him to get it done."

Southpaws have been Napoli's kryptonite. The 30-year-old is batting just .160 against left-handed pitchers this season, compared to .319 last year.

"If we had the answer, it would be figured out," Washington said. "I know at some point, this guy's going to start coming through. And if he doesn't come through, that's something he's going to have to live with and we as the Texas Rangers are just going to have to live with. But I'm not going to back off with him out there in the field."

Napoli and the Rangers will draw a southpaw -- and one who is pitching well -- on Friday, when Texas hosts Minnesota for the opener of a three-game series. Since rejoining the starting rotation, Francisco Liriano has posted a 2.95 ERA in seven outings, recording 46 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings.

The Twins have dropped back-to-back games, while Texas is riding a four-game losing streak.

"I feel strong," Liriano said. "I feel pretty good; nothing's bothering me. My arm feels great."

Liriano did, however, struggle in his last outing, when he allowed four runs on five hits and four walks during 5 1/3 innings in a 10-8 win over the Royals.

"I didn't have my best stuff," Liriano said. "I wasn't throwing my fastball for strikes consistently, and they've got some good hitters, too, so I just went out there and tried to battle the whole game," Liriano said. "My command, I wasn't locating my pitches were I want to."

Twins: Capps progressing toward return
• Closer Matt Capps, sidelined since June 24 with inflammation in his right shoulder, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. If it goes as planned, the right-hander could make a rehab outing on Monday in the Gulf Coast League or throw a second bullpen session.

Capps is expected to pitch one inning on Wednesday for Class A Advanced Fort Myers. The Twins hope he'll rejoin them after the All-Star break next week.

Capps, who has 14 saves and a 3.42 ERA, first felt discomfort in his shoulder on June 15. The Twins gave him a week off before he encountered a setback during an appearance against the Reds on June 23.

"Saturday's [bullpen session] will determine whether he wants to throw in a game on Monday or throw a [bullpen session]," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. "And it doesn't really matter either way, to be honest with you."

Rangers: Darvish heading to All-Star Game
• Yu Darvish won the AL All-Star Final Vote competition, the results of which were announced on Thursday, giving the Rangers a league-high eight All-Stars, not including Washington. Texas plans to rest Darvish -- 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA -- until after the All-Star break.

Martin Perez will start in Darvish's place on Friday and will be followed by Derek Holland -- returning from a stint on the disabled list -- on Saturday and Roy Oswalt on Sunday. In his first career start, Perez held Oakland to two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 7-2 win on Saturday.

"It was just trying to maximize Yu Darvish's ability," Washington said. "A lot of it came with the drudgery of the schedule, him not experiencing this type of grind, and we just feel like we have to do what's best for him and what's best for us. We think him missing this one start, getting that time through the All-Star break and coming back will benefit him and the Texas Rangers."

Worth noting
• The Rangers swept a three-game set at Minnesota's Target Field in mid-April.

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