NewsHunter, Richardson to go in opener
Texas (66-50) vs. Minnesota (56-61), 7:05 p.m. CT
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
08/16/09 8:31 PM ET
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have a full agenda for Monday as they open a four-game series with the Twins at the Ballpark in Arlington. Among the items: Give Kevin Richardson his first Major League start. Check out Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Keep looking for catching help. Return Ian Kinsler to the top of the order. Get Brandon McCarthy back on the mound in the Minor Leagues. Beat the Twins. Sign Matthew Purke. Manager Ron Washington said Richardson, who was called up on Saturday, is expected to start at catcher on Monday night. Washington wants to give Taylor Teagarden a night off and line up Richardson with Tommy Hunter. Richardson caught Hunter this season at Triple-A Oklahoma City before they were both called to the Majors. "He's familiar with Hunter, so I'm going to let him catch Hunter," Washington said. Saltalamacchia, sidelined with soreness in his right arm and numbness in his right hand, is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday. He will also undergo further tests on Tuesday. The concern is that Saltalamacchia may have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, where a ribcage bone and muscle presses on a nerve. Kenny Rogers, Matt Harrison and Hank Blalock have all had Thoracic Outlet surgery, and it usually sidelines a player for two to three months. That would mean the rest of the season, in Saltalamacchia's case. But Saltalamacchia is still holding out hope that he can be back in a couple of weeks. After talking with Blalock and Harrison, he said his symptoms are different than those his teammates experienced. "They were feeling pain," Saltalamacchia said. "I'm not feeling any pain." Saltalamacchia's main concern is numbness in his right hand, and it could be that he just needs rest and massage therapy to address the situation. The next two days of tests will give the Rangers a better idea. But that hasn't stopped general manager Jon Daniels from looking around for catching help, and Royals catcher John Buck has drawn some interest. Pitching matchupTEX: RHP Tommy Hunter (5-2, 2.26 ERA)
Hunter is 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his past two starts. He beat the Indians, 5-0, on Wednesday with 7 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out five. He is 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA in six starts at home. Left-handed hitters are batting .259 off him and right-handers are hitting .182. Opponents are 6-for-44 (.136) against him with runners in scoring position, including 1-for-21 when there are two outs. This is his first career start against the Twins. MIN: LHP Francisco Liriano (5-11, 5.39 ERA)
Liriano defeated the Royals, 7-1, in his previous start, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings. Prior to that, he was 0-3 with a 5.65 ERA in five starts. He has averaged 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings, tied for the sixth-best in the American League. He is 3-6 with a 6.01 ERA in 13 starts on the road. That's the fourth-highest road ERA in the AL. He is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four career games, including two starts, against the Rangers. Tidbits
Washington said he is planning to use Kinsler in the leadoff spot with a left-hander on the mound for the Twins on Monday. Kinsler batted sixth on Saturday and Sunday with Julio Borbon in the lineup. But Borbon is expected to sit against Liriano. ... Brandon McCarthy makes his third medical rehabilitation assignment appearance for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday. The plan is about 70 pitches over four or five innings against Salt Lake City. ... Elvis Andrus had three hits, three runs and three stolen bases on Saturday night. Only two other players have accomplished that in club history: Scarborough Green (2000) and Cecil Espy (1989). ... Borbon had four stolen bases on Saturday. He and Andrus are the first teammates to have at least three steals in a game since Cliff Floyd and Luis Castillo for the Marlins on May 18, 2000. The last AL teammates to achieve it were Paul Molitor and Darryl Hamilton for the Brewers on April 14, 1992. ... Outfielder Nelson Cruz, on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle, will see rehab action for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon against Salt Lake City. He's eligible to come off the DL on Wednesday. Tickets
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• 105.3 The Fan, KFLC 1270 (Español) Up next
• Tuesday: Rangers (Scott Feldman, 12-4, 3.90) vs. Twins (Carl Pavano, 10-9, 5.16), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Rangers (Kevin Millwood, 9-7, 3.31) vs. Twins (Scott Baker, 10-7, 4.54), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Rangers (Derek Holland, 6-7, 4.88) vs. Twins (Anthony Swarzak, 3-6, 5.87), 7:05 p.m. CT
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
