--LHP Matt Harrison starts the opener of the Cleveland series on Friday and hopes to build on his eight-inning scoreless streak. Harrison fired eight scoreless innings against Tampa Bay in his last outing. Harrison is the fifth Rangers rookie starter in the last nine seasons to win at least five games. Every other starter had at least 23 starts; Harrison has had eight.

--The winning team in the Rangers' last 12 games has scored at least seven runs 11 times. The Rangers have won just three of those 12 games.

--C Gerald Laird appears to have fallen into the habit of trying to become a home run hitter since hitting two homers against Toronto on Aug. 3. As a result, he's struggled. He is just 7-for-52 (.135) with two extra-base hits (both doubles) and two RBIs.

BY THE NUMBERS: 14 -- Starting pitchers used by the Rangers this season through Aug. 17. Dustin Nippert became No. 14 on Sunday. The Rangers will go to 15 on Aug. 23 when Brandon McCarthy is activated for the first time this season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He has said he wants to take a system-wide new approach to pitching. He's going to be involved in conditioning and things like that. He doesn't really believe in the idea of limiting pitchers to 100 pitches per outing. He wants our guys to be better conditioned, stronger and have more stamina. They sound like smart ideas to me." -- Owner Tom Hicks, talking about the new tack president Nolan Ryan wants to take at trying to improve the league's worst pitching staff.