Pitching matchups:Today: Matt Harrison (0-1) vs. Gil Meche (0-0); 7:05Saturday: Kevin Millwood (1-0) vs. Zack Greinke (2-0); 7:05Sunday: Vicente Padilla (1-1) vs. Kyle Davies (1-0); 2:05NOTE: Join us for in-game live blogging when the game is scheduled to begin

The Rangers bullpen struggles have certainly been an ongoing story since the season began. But the Royals' bullpen was also in the news today. A Kansas City Star story talks about the strikeout pitchers in the pen and the key they hold to the season. The story says that the bullpen is averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings, tops in the American League. (The Rangers' bullpen, by the way, is averaging 8.3 strikeotus per nine innings). The story details how important Juan Cruz is to that fact:If there is a face to this movement, it is Juan Cruz's. Early in the offseason, the Royals signed Kyle Farnsworth to a two-year, $9 million contract in large part because he averages more than a strikeout per inning in his career and was one of the top "power arms" available on the free-agent market.Then, midway through spring training, the Royals trumped that by signing Cruz to a two-year, $6 million deal. Among all relievers with 50 or more innings last year, only Phillies closer Brad Lidge induced a higher percentage of missed swings than Cruz.

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