--RHP Vicente Padilla's velocity has dropped, and the Rangers are concerned. Padilla, who normally throws fastballs in the mid-90s, has been pitching at 88 to 91 mph the last two starts. In those two starts, Padilla has allowed 19 hits in 8 1/3 innings. He's allowed 12 runs in that span.
--LHP Matt Harrison faces Toronto on Wednesday, and he needs to show some progress. In his first two outings, Hamilton has gotten away from establishing the fastball and has found himself without any weapons by the middle innings. As a result, he's allowed 10 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings this season. Harrison has allowed nine walks and has allowed opponents a .472 on-base percentage. BY THE NUMBERS: .678 -- Percentage of times the Rangers had taken on the first pitch through their first 11 games. It was the lowest percentage in the AL. The only other team that took less than 70 percent of the time was Tampa Bay (.694). Nine teams took 73 percent of the time or more.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It will come around. And when it does, it's going to be big." -- CF Josh Hamilton, who took a 1-for-16 stretch that included 10 strikeouts into the week. Hamilton has been trying to make a switch back to a timing mechanism to start his swing that he used last year.
