Texas Rangers

Martin was also caught stealing for the second time this season Thursday. He has hit .268/.326/.390 in 89 plate appearances and appears to be warming up on the basepaths.

"We'd like to use him just one inning so we have him the next day," manager Ron Washington told MLB.com. "Sometimes you have to push the envelope, and last night was one of those nights. Our intention is to use him for just one inning. We haven't discussed plans for constantly pitching him in multiple innings."

Scheppers has been a key piece of the bullpen this season, allowing just one earned run in 20 innings while recording three wins.

You also have a 25-year-old who has yet to start a game in the majors and who seemed destined to spend his entire career in middle relief just last year.

But if his numbers in the heavy-hitting Pacific Coast League this year count for anything, a return to the starting rotation has made him an even better pitcher. In 43 1/3 innings, he has a 2.08 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, allowing just 5.6 hits per nine innings.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels recently pointed out that Lindblom has three plus pitches and is working on a fourth. A varied arsenal usually plays up better in a starting role than a relief role, so Lindblom strikes me as one of those pitchers who will fare better when stretched out. If I had a roster spot to play with, I might just take a flier on him.

Last year, Cruz didn't hit his 10th home run until June 23. He has hit .264/.319/.507 in 160 plate appearances this season.

Andrus didn't reach double digits in steals last season until June 15, when he produced a career-low 21 stolen bases. He has hit .267/.313/.321 in 179 plate appearances this season.

Kinsler injured his ribs sliding into third base in Thursday's game. He will be replaced by Leury Garcia. Consider Kinsler day-to-day for now.

"I’m not concerned about him," Washington said. "Each game that he lost, he kept us in the game. He’s out there battling and fighting."

Grimm, who will make his next start against Detroit Saturday, insists this rough patch won't break him. 

"April was a lot more fun," Grimm said. "But I’m going to keep my head high, do my work and turn the corner. It’s more fun when things are going good for you. You have to find ways to stay mentally strong when they aren’t."

Moreland has secured an everyday spot and has Nando eyeing a 25-homer season, with nine already on the board. Nando also sets an over/under on Moreland's ownership at 87 percent by the end of the month, after he jumped up from 33 to 57 percent just over the last week.

If you are looking for an upgrade at first base, you can definitely do worse than a 27-year-old with growing power who doesn't strike out much and has improved his batting average at least 21 points in each of the last two seasons. That he plays in a solid lineup in a hitter's park is all the more reason to run out and grab Moreland.

Despite having the game in hand late, the Rangers allowed Darvish to throw 130 pitches, the second highest pitch count of any AL pitcher this season and the second time in three starts Darvish has thrown at least 127 pitches. He'll take a 2.97 ERA into a start at home against the A's Tuesday.

"I don’t know if I can do that to A.J. and make him sit another day," Washington told the Dallas Morning News. "Besides, I want to watch the game, too. He’s up here in my office every day telling me he wants to play. I think playing him will be more of a mental day off for me than for him."

His next scheduled start comes Sunday in Detroit.