--C Gerald Laird began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Oklahoma by catching five innings Tuesday and making three plate appearances (he was 0-for-2 with a walk). The Rangers believe Laird could be ready to return from his severe hamstring strain by the start of next week. He has been out since June 20.

--RHP Brandon McCarthy, who has been out all season with arm problems, also made his first rehab start at Class AAA Oklahoma after two appearances in the Arizona Rookie League. McCarthy allowed all four of his runs in the first inning. He ended up going 3 2/3 innings on 63 pitches.

--RHP Kevin Millwood will start for the Rangers on Wednesday, hoping not to end the day with the highest opponents' batting average allowed in the league (and on a pace to have the highest ever). Millwood has allowed a .324 average, while Minnesota's Livan Hernandez has allowed a .335 average. No pitcher to qualify for the ERA race has allowed a higher average than .321 for a full season in the past 20 years.

BY THE NUMBERS: 8 -- Rangers who have picked up their first career hits this season: OF Brandon Boggs, 1B Chris Davis, INF German Duran, catchers Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez, RHPs Scott Feldman and Eric Hurley and LHP Kason Gabbard. Teagarden got his first hit on July 20, a home run that turned out to be the game-winner.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He and Jon Daniels have established an excellent working relationship. As I had hoped, Nolan is bringing his unique experience and baseball background to mentor Jon and the rest of our staff in a way that we will make the best decisions as we hopefully build a championship-caliber organization. Nolan has shown his commitment to making the Texas Rangers a first-class baseball club, on and off the field, and brings a level of credibility to the club that we haven't had in the past." -- Rangers owner Tom Hicks, on team president Nolan Ryan's impact on the organization.