The Rangers may have to consider finding a way to get OF/DH Andruw Jones on the field more regularly. Jones hit .500 through the first two weeks of the season with a .650 on-base percentage and a 1.650 OPS. The options would be to either move Jones to left field to split time more regularly with Marlon Byrd or to have him at DH with Hank Blalock taking some playing time from struggling 1B Chris Davis. Jones received an intentional walk in a key situation on Wednesday, shortly before RF Nelson Cruz hit a game-changing grand slam. It was the first intentional walk Jones received since late in the 2007 season. Afterward, several teammates said that opponents were once again respecting Jones as a hitter.
PLAYER NEWS: --2B Ian Kinsler started the defense of his co-AL Player of the Week award with a two-run homer that gave the Rangers the lead for good Tuesday. Kinsler has a 1.423 on-base-plus-slugging percentage through the first 13 games of the season. He has 13 extra-base hits in those 13 games.
--RHP Jason Jennings continues his emergence as an unlikely setup man. While Jennings was charged with an unearned run Tuesday, he has not allowed an earned run in six innings this season. Jennings has held hitters to a .091 batting average this season.
--CF Josh Hamilton broke out of an 0-for-15 stretch with an eighth-inning single Tuesday. Hamilton's batting average has fallen to .231 and he has 11 strikeouts in his last 21 at-bats. With Toronto starting LHP David Purcey on Wednesday, it's possible Hamilton could get a day off.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Kris Benson (right elbow tendinitis) was moved back in the rotation and is scheduled to pitch April 25.
RHP Dustin Nippert (upper back soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Frisco on April 11, but he strained a muscle in his side. He's not expected back before May 1.
RHP Joaquin Benoit (rotator cuff surgery in January 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He is out for at least the first half of the season but could miss the entire year.
RHP Eric Hurley (rotator cuff surgery in January 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He is out for the year.
ROTATION:
RHP Kevin Millwood
RHP Vicente Padilla
RHP Brandon McCarthy
RHP Kris Benson
LHP Matt Harrison
BULLPEN:
RHP Frank Francisco (closer)
LHP C.J. Wilson
LHP Eddie Guardado
RHP Scott Feldman
LHP Derek Holland
RHP Jason Jennings
RHP Willie Eyre
CATCHERS:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Taylor Teagarden
INFIELDERS:
1B Chris Davis
2B Ian Kinsler
SS Elvis Andrus
3B Michael Young
INF Omar Vizquel
OUTFIELDERS:
LF David Murphy
CF Josh Hamilton
RF Nelson Cruz
DH Hank Blalock
OF Andruw Jones
OF Marlon Byrd
