But he didn't go Friday when the Rangers had to make a roster move.

Instead, the Rangers optioned left-hander Bill White all the way down to Class A Bakersfield in order to activate right-hander Luis Mendoza. The Rangers felt they needed Mendoza as insurance for spot starter right-hander Dustin Nippert, who was taking Padilla's spot. Since Bakersfield's season ends on Monday, White can rejoin the big league club on Tuesday. Nippert ended up pitching 5 1/3 innings Friday before giving way to right-hander Warner Madrigal.

Padilla will be placed on the DL Saturday with a sore left hamstring. The hamstring started bothering him earlier this week, general manager Jon Daniels said. It prohibited Padilla from doing any running.

When Padilla is officially placed on the DL, the Rangers will recall right-hander Kameron Loe from Class AAA Oklahoma. Ordinarily Loe, who was sent to the minors last Saturday, would have to be in the minors for 10 days before being recalled, but since he is replacing a player who is going to the DL, he can be recalled sooner. It will be the fifth time this season Loe has been called up from the minors.

Padilla's DL placement will be retroactive to Monday, meaning he would be eligible to return on Sept. 9 at Seattle. It will be the second trip to the DL for him this season. He was on it from July 5-19 with the neck issue.

Padilla pitched only 39 2/3 innings over the final two months of last season. It appears he is headed for a similar total this season. He has 21 innings since August 1 this year and figures to have no more than four starts remaining if he comes back on Sept. 9.

"I do expect him to pitch again," Daniels said. "We need him to come back and pitch again."

Padilla won seven of his first nine decisions through May, but has struggled since. He is 5-5 with a 6.27 ERA. Of the 142 major leaguers with at least 50 innings since June 1, Padilla ranks 133rd.

ANGELS 3, RANGERS 1: RHP Dustin Nippert, starting in place of RHP Vicente Padilla, came close, but couldn't extend the Rangers longest quality-start streak of the season Friday. And as a result, the Rangers lost for the 15th time in the last 21 games. Nippert, primarily a reliever, took a two-hit shutout to the sixth, but as the Angels lineup came up for the third time, it appeared to figure him out. Nippert allowed a one-out single to Chone Figgins and then left a fastball up to Garret Anderson. Anderson ripped it into the right field seats for a two-run homer. Nippert loaded the bases on a hit and a pair of walks before being removed. RHP Warner Madrigal allowed a run-scoring sacrifice fly to account for the rest of the scoring.