Tuesday a.m. Rangers things

Last night was a matchup of the Rangers' #5 starter against the Angels' #1 starter, and the outcome was therefore not unexpected.  Derek Holland got squeezed a little bit and ended up unraveling, with Pedro Strop coming in in the later innings and allowing Anaheim a sufficient cushion for them to win.

Jeff Wilson writes in his game story that Derek Holland did not help his case for being on the Rangers' postseason playoff roster.

T.R. Sullivan's game story notes that the bright spots for Texas in this game were largely limited to Julio Borbon's grand slam saving catch, David Murphy's 5 for 5 night, and Chris Davis's pinch hit home run, the first pinch hit homer for the team in over three years.

Richard Durrett has some post-game quotes and reactions from last night's game, with Holland saying that he let things get to him in the third and fourth innings, and may have put too much pressure on himself.

Wilson has a story on Josh Hamilton's back problems and his visit to Dr. Robert Watkins, a back specialist, yesterday. 

Evan Grant has a column about Josh Hamilton's health issues, and how that impacts the Rangers' willingness to do a long-term deal with him.

Frank Francisco was supposed to start throwing yesterday, but instead will throw today, as the Rangers try to get him back on track and healthy in time for the playoffs.

Nelson Cruz says his improved batting average this season is the result of being more selective at the plate.

The Rangers' game on Saturday is not scheduled to be shown on TV -- the only game this season that wouldn't be televised -- although the Rangers are trying to make arrangements for it to get on the air, even if it is tape-delayed.