ARLINGTON, Texas – There’s no reason to dance around the fact that the Texas Rangers are mired in a relatively long stretch of mediocrity.

What else can you call a 15-16 run after the 12-2 start?

Manager Ron Washington acknowledges that the Rangers have hit a lull. He vows that it won’t last long.

“That’s what good clubs do, they shorten that period when they’re in a down cycle,” Washington said. “We’re going to break out and get back on a roll.”

It’s not as simple as pinpointing the problem and fixing it. On some nights, the pitching has struggled. On others, the lineup hasn’t produced.

The good news is that the Rangers have basically played .500 ball during their funk and still lead the American League West by five games, the biggest division lead in the AL.

“Things got a little flat, but the only way you can deal with that is work through it,” Washington said. “We’re not going to make an excuse. It’s a long year. You never know when things are going to turn around. You’ve got to keep going at it.”

Some other notes:

*Scott Feldman will make another start Tuesday, primarily because the Rangers really don’t have another choice. He is 0-2 with a 5.11 ERA in three starts, failing to get out of the fifth inning in any of those outings.

“If he’s effective, he’s going to extend himself,” Washington said. “If he isn’t effective, he isn’t going to extend himself.”

*Washington acknowledged that part of the reason Michael Young will play first base tonight is the hope that playing in the field will help get Young’s bat going.

“I think every player when they’re on the field focuses a little different than when they’re just hitting,” Washington said.

Young seemed to snap out of an extended slump while playing first base in the interleague series in Houston. He was 5-for-12 with two doubles against the Astros after entering that series in an 18-for-98 funk. However, Young went 1-for-12 as a designated hitter in the next series in Seattle.