The schedule now stiffens for the Texas Rangers, who start a run with four teams most consider true contenders in the American League in 2012.

PODCAST
There are some storm clouds brewing for the Rangers and it has to do with the back of the rotation. Yu Darvish and Neftali Feliz are taxing the bullpen and it could be time to move Yu up to third and Matt Harrison to fourth in the rotation. Listen

The Rangers play at Fenway Park in Boston (Tuesday and Wednesday) and at Comerica Park in Detroit for four games (Thursday through Sunday) before heading home for three games against the Yankees and three against Tampa Bay.

For the second consecutive season, the Red Sox didn't get off to a fast start. They were 1-5 on the road against Detroit and Toronto. But no team in the AL East has raced out to a quick start, either, and the Red Sox are back at home, where they're comfortable.

Since the Rangers went 0-7 at Fenway Park in 2008, Texas has actually held its own in Boston. The Rangers are 8-5 the past three seasons in Boston (and 11-5 against the Red Sox in Arlington).

Colby Lewis and Derek Holland will start for the Rangers in the two-game series. Lewis is 1-1 with a 6.28 ERA in 14 1/3 career innings at Fenway. Holland has two career starts in Boston and has allowed four earned runs on eight hits in 11 2/3 innings (3.09 ERA).

After Boston, the Rangers spend four days in Detroit. That's not been a particularly kind place to the Rangers in the regular season (and they did lose two of three in Detroit in the ALCS, though the win in Game 4 gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead in the series). Texas is 4-14 at Comerica Park the past four seasons.

Yu Darvish will get a chance to make his second road start of the season during the series. And the Rangers will get their first look at Prince Fielder in the American League.

Texas returns home Monday, April 23 against the Yankees.