The Rangers continue to tweak their struggling bullpen, partly because of ineffectiveness and partly because of health. In one five-day span over the last 10 days, the Rangers added three pitchers to the bullpen: LHP Derek Holland (called up to make major league debut), RHP Darren O'Day (claimed on waivers from the New York Mets) and RHP Luis Mendoza (called up from Class AAA ). O'Day quickly appeared for the Rangers, getting into an extra-inning game just 20 minutes after arriving at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. He allowed a game-winning hit to Kevin Millar.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Brandon McCarthy ran his record to 3-0 on Saturday by beating the Chicago White Sox. That's not just any win for McCarthy. The White Sox are the team that originally drafted him and then traded him to Texas in December 2006. He had never previously started against them.
--RHP Darren O'Day pitched a scoreless inning on Sunday. O'Day allowed a hit to the first batter he faced as a Ranger after joining the team in Toronto following a full day of flying from his home in Florida, but since then he's allowed just one base runner in 4 1/3 innings over five appearances. He has quickly moved into a key late-inning role in the Rangers bullpen.
MEDICAL WATCH:
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (eye irritation) left the April 30 game and didn't play May 1. He returned to action May 2.
OF Josh Hamilton (strained left ribcage muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27.
RHP Kris Benson (right elbow tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 16. He will begin a rehab assignment with Class AA Frisco on May 3.
RHP Willie Eyre (right groin strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 23. He had begun the season on the DL with the same injury.
RHP Dustin Nippert (upper back soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 22. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Frisco on April 11, but he strained a muscle in his side.
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 Scott Feldman
LHP Matt Harrison
BULLPEN:
RHP Frank Francisco (closer)
LHP C.J. Wilson
LHP Eddie Guardado
LHP Derek Holland
RHP Jason Jennings
RHP Luis Mendoza
RHP Darren O'Day
CATCHERS:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Taylor Teagarden
Max Ramirez
INFIELDERS:
1B Chris Davis
2B Ian Kinsler
SS Elvis Andrus
3B Michael Young
INF Omar Vizquel
OUTFIELDERS:
LF David Murphy
RF Nelson Cruz
DH Hank Blalock
OF Andruw Jones
OF Marlon Byrd
