That has dropped his batting average from .335 to .309. He was hitting .357 at the end of July when manager Buck Showalter started gradually increasing his playing time, although this latest stretch is the result of catcher Rod Barajas dealing with a bad back.

The Rangers' main concern is Laird being able to hold up for an entire season, especially 2007 if they don't re-sign Barajas and Laird is their everyday catcher for an entire year.

Laird said his struggles at the plate of late have nothing to do with him being tired.

"My body feels great behind the plate," Laird said. "It's a matter of being patient at the plate and not missing my pitches. I've got [230] at-bats this year, I feel like I'm going to struggle at some point. But I don't feel tired at all."

The Rangers have talked about the possibility of re-signing Barajas and keep their catching tandem intact. There will be plenty of catchers who will be available as free agents in the offseason, but the Rangers don't have a top catching prospect ready to step in as Laird's backup next year.

Miguel Ojeda was acquired from the Colorado Rockies on July 30 as a possibility, and he started at catcher on Sunday. Laird is a career .314 hitter in April through July but just .226 over August and September.

"You're going to go through struggles, that's part of baseball," Laird said. "It's going to happen. But there's no sign of fatigue at all."

Convergence of outfielders: In Saturday night's game, Indians catcher Victor Martinez hit a long drive to deep right-center in the third inning. Gary Matthews raced back to the bullpen wall in deep right-center to make another leaping catch and found something a little different.

Right fielder Nelson Cruz was right there trying to make the same leaping catch, and the ball hit off the wall for a double. Having a right fielder who can get to some of the same balls he can in deep right-center is a little different for Matthews.

"I thought [Mark DeRosa] played well out there, but it's a little different," Matthews said. "Cruz plays hard -- I like his effort. I like to see him run into the gaps and see his range. It's good for him and good for me. I get to see his range and what he can cover.

"Give me an outfielder who is aggressive. I'm aggressive and I like aggressive outfielders. It's a good time of the year to let it all hang out. I like his style of play."

Another day for Arias: Shortstop Joaquin Arias' first Major League start has been postponed for one day. Showalter was planning on letting him start Sunday, but instead will hold off until Monday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

If Arias starts at shortstop, Michael Young will be used at designated hitter. But Showalter wanted to use Hank Blalock at designated hitter on Sunday because he was 8-for-19 in his career against Indians starter Jake Westbrook. Blalock will likely sit Monday.

"It just fits a lot better," Showalter said, adding that Arias will probably get two starts during the final week of the season.

Briefly: Young entered Sunday's game with a .984 fielding percentage, the second highest in the American League. ... Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said he doesn't foresee getting contract extensions done with any of the team's nine potential free agents before the season is over.

Coming up: Right-hander Edinson Volquez (1-5, 6.53 ERA) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at 9:05 p.m. CT on Monday at Angel Stadium. Left-hander Joe Saunders (6-3, 4.29 ERA) pitches for the Angels. The Rangers are 7-9 against the Angels this year, including a 3-4 mark in Anaheim.