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The Rangers are sending Matt Harrison to the mound against former teammate Brandon McCarthy and the Oakland Athletics under the sun at Rangers Ballpark. We'll start chatting around 1:05 p.m. when the first pitch is scheduled for ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM and FSSW.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The final game of this quick two-game series features LHP Matt Harrison and RHP Brandon McCarthy. The game starts at 1:05 p.m. on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM and FSSW. A look at the matchup:

Harrison (4-3, 5.23 ERA): The 26-year-old will make his eighth start of the season after taking a 4-2 loss Saturday against the Angels. ... Harrison gave up four runs on four hits in six innings with five strikeouts and two walks. ... Harrison got into trouble with two-out walks, both of which scored in the game. ... Harrison started the year 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA through three starts, but is 1-3 with an 8.86 ERA in his last four starts (with one quality start). ... He's 4-1 with a 4.10 ERA in nine games (six starts) in his career against Oakland, including 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in the six starts. ... In two starts vs. Oakland in Arlington, Harrison is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA, including 7 2/3 shutout innings at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on July 10, 2011.

McCarthy (3-3, 2.56 ERA): This will be the ninth start for the former Ranger. ... He has won each of his last three starts and has a 1.31 ERA in that span. ... His 2.56 ERA is eighth in the AL. ... McCarthy hasn't allowed a home run in his last four starts. ... Opponents are batting .173 with runners in scoring position against McCarthy, fifth-lowest in the AL. ... He pitched seven shutout innings last Saturday against Detroit, with four hits allowed and 10 strikeouts. ... Is 1-4 with a 4.06 ERA in nine career appearances vs. Texas. ... Was 0-2 with a 4.13 ERA in five starts last year.

Hitters: Elvis Andrus (3-for-13), Mike Napoli (2-for-11) and Nelson Cruz (1-for-11) have struggled against McCarthy. ... Adrian Beltre (10-for-26, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs), Michael Young (7-for-19) and Yorvit Torrealba (3-for-5) have hit him well. ... Coco Crisp (6-for-14) and Kurt Suzuki (6-for-14) have hit Harrison well. ... Scott Sizemore is just 1-for-9 off Harrison.

Up Next:

Fri. at Hou.: RHP Neftali Feliz (3-1, 3.32) vs. LHP Wandy Rodriguez (3-3, 1.99), 7:05 p.m., ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM/1540/TXA 21
Sat. at Hou.: LHP Derek Holland (3-2, 3.78) vs. RHP Lucas Harrell (2-3, 4.40), 6:15 p.m., ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM/1540/FOX
Sun. at Hou.: RHP Colby Lewis (3-3, 3.63) vs. RHP Jordan Lyles (0-0, 3.00), 1:05 p.m., ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM/1540/FSSW

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Late inning home runs by Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton allowed the Rangers to come back and win for the fourth straight time and eighth time in the last nine games. The magic number is now 3 with the Angels winning earlier in the night. Some quick thoughts (more to come from the clubhouse shortly):

* With the magic number at 3, the earliest the Rangers can clinch the AL West is Friday at home vs. Seattle. The Tigers won, so the Rangers stay even with them in the standings for homefield advantage in the first round (Detroit has the tiebreaker).

* The Rangers used eighth-inning power to pull out the win. With the Rangers down 2-1, Ian Kinsler hit a solo homer to left to tie the score. Two batters later, Josh Hamilton hit a line drive down the right field line to give Texas a 3-2 lead. It was the 27th go-ahead RBI of the season for Hamilton, tied for seventh-most in the majors (Ryan Howard has 36).

* Hamilton's homer was his 20th game-winning RBI, the most in the American League. It was his 24th homer and 92nd RBI of the season.

* Kinsler now has 30 home runs for the second time in his career. He is four stolen bases away from a 30-30 season, which would be the second of his career (31-31 in 2009). He is the first 2B in the AL with 30 homers, 30 doubles, 100 runs and 80 walks in a season.

* C.J. Wilson ran into trouble in the fifth. Cliff Pennington hit a double down the right-field line that was barely fair with one out. Then, with two outs, the A's got a single from Brandon Allen and Wilson walked No. 9 hitter Michael Taylor. Jemile Weeks' single scored the go-ahead run at the time, making it 2-1.

* Wilson's pitch count got up in a hurry thanks in large part to full counts. Wilson faced 24 batters and went to a full count on seven of them. He went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.

* Wilson got his 200th strikeout in the first inning, becoming the first left-handed pitcher in club history to hit that mark. He was also the first since Nolan Ryan in 1991 to have at least 200 strikeouts in a season.

* Wilson tried to glove a ground ball up the middle with one on and one out in the second, but luckily missed it. Elvis Andrus was able to scoop it, step on second and throw to first. It was the 31st double-play Wilson has induced this season, a club record.

* Texas scored in the second thanks to consecutive singles by Michael Young and Adrian Beltre. With runners at the corners, Mike Napoli hit into a double-play. But that did score the run.

* The Rangers got a 'strike-em-out, throw-em-out' double play in the fourth as Coco Crisp struck out and Weeks was caught in a rundown between first and second. Andrus had to run a long way, but tagged him out. After making the play, Wilson showed off the antlers and pointed at Andrus.

* Kinsler's stolen base in the sixth was his 25th in a row. He has 26 on the season. The last time he was caught: April 15. The 25 straight stolen bases is a club record (he had the previous mark).

* The late lead allowed manager Ron Washington to utilize Mike Adams in the eighth and Neftali Feliz in the ninth to close it down. But don't forget about the job Koji Uehara did in the seventh, getting the A's in order.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The second game of this three-game series features lefty C.J. Wilson and right-hander Brandon McCarthy. The game starts at 9:11 p.m. Dallas time on FSSW and ESPN 103.3 FM. Here's a quick look at the matchup:

Wilson (16-7, 2.97 ERA): He's allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts since early August, going 6-2 with a 1.93 ERA in that span. ...Opponents are batting just .208 with 16 walks and 61 strikeouts in that time. ...He has four straight starts of six or more innings while allowing two or fewer runs, his second such streak in 2011. The only other AL pitchers with multiple streak at least that long: Ricky Romero (3), Max Scherzer, Jered Weaver, James Shields and Gio Gonzalez (2). ...Wilson lost 4-0 at Seattle on Friday, giving up four runs (one earned) on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. ...His 2.31 ERA (29 earned runs in 113 innings) on the road is the lowest in the AL and third-lowest in the majors. ...He is 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA (12 ER/35.0 IP) in five starts against the A's this season, having won three straight with a 2.14 ERA (5 ER/21.0 IP) in those games. ...He is 1-1 in two starts in Oakland despite two quality starts and a 2.08 ERA in 2011. ...Is seeking his 17th win. He would become the third Rangers pitcher since 2000 to do that (Kenny Rogers, 18 in 2004 and Scott Feldman, 17 in 2009).

McCarthy (9-8, 3.35 ERA): The former Ranger is 3-2 with a 2.15 ERA in his last five starts. Opponents are batting .196 in that span. ...He is 8-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break after going 1-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 11 starts before the break. ...McCarthy is tied for second in the AL in wins since the break. ...He won his last start, a 6-1 victory over the Tigers last Thursday, giving up one run on five hits in seven innings with two walks and eight strikeouts. ...Is 1-4 with a 4.58 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) versus Texas, including 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA (12 earned runs in 21 1/3 innings) in four starts this year.

Hitters: The A's are batting just .185 as a team against Wilson. ...Hideki Matsui (2-for-15, 2 BB, 6 K), David DeJesus (2-for-17) and Kurt Suzuki (1-for-17) have particularly struggled against him. ...Josh Willingham (7-for-15, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBIs) is hitting better than any of his teammates with more than two at-bats against Wilson. ...Adrian Beltre is 8-for-23 with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs. ...Michael Young is 5-for-16 and Elvis Andrus 3-for-10 off McCarthy. ...Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler and Mike Napoli are a combined 4-for-24 with no homers off him.

Upcoming matchups:

Thur. at Oak: RHP Colby Lewis (13-10, 4.45) vs. RHP Trevor Cahill (11-14, 4.31), 2:37 p.m., 103.3/1540/FSSW

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Colby Lewis was solid, giving up just three runs in 7 1/3 innings, and the offense helped him out with two in the first, two in the fifth and four in the seventh. Texas got five more in the eighth after Lewis left. The win means the Rangers will be at least 2.5 games up in the AL West depending on what happens to the Angels tonight at home against the Yankees. Some quick thoughts (more to come from the clubhouse):

* It didn't take long for Lewis to give up his 33rd home run of the season, tops in the AL (and second in the majors). He walked Hideki Matsui with two outs (started him with a strike and threw four straight balls) and then gave up the homer on a 1-0 fastball to Josh Willingham. It was Willingham's third homer off Lewis in 14 at-bats. It gave the A's a quick 2-0 lead.

* But Lewis settled down. He located his fastball better, took advantage of no jet stream and got ahead in the counts. He also settled into a nice rhythm, pitching quickly and not allowing the A's hitters to get comfortable. It was a much better showing than his last start, when he gave up four runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. Lewis struck out seven batters and was in command after the first. He gave up just five hits.

* He retired the first two hitters in every inning but his last one, the eighth. After getting the first out, his eighth straight, Lewis surrendered a single to Jemile Weeks and that was it for him after 99 pitches. He received a big hand and waved to the crowd before entering the dugout. Now he's scheduled to get seven days of rest before his next start.

* Adrian Beltre extended his hitting streak to 14 games in the first inning Friday, belting a double to left to score Ian Kinsler. Beltre was hitting .364 during the streak going into the game. The Rangers had a banner hanging from the fourth floor in center field that read: "Congratulations, Adrian 2000 Hits." He got his 2,000th hit at Fenway Park during the club's last road trip.

* Kinsler took a lead-off walk, his team-leading 78th. He was seventh in the AL in walks coming into the game. He ended up on third thanks to an error on A's starter Brandon McCarthy.

* David Murphy, filling in impressively for Nelson Cruz, had a solid at-bat in the first inning. He fouled off three pitches after falling behind 1-2 in the count and eventually hit a 2-2 pitch to center for a sacrifice fly to score Michael Young. It was Murphy's 18th RBI in his last 14 games.

* With a runner (Mitch Moreland) at second after a leadoff double in the second, Endy Chavez was not able to get a sacrifice bunt down to get him to third (popped it up). Craig Gentry singled to put runners on the corners, but Ian Kinsler lined out to short and Elvis Andrus popped up. It was a wasted opportunity for Texas in a tie game.

* With Kinsler at first and one out in the fifth, the Rangers called a hit-and-run, allowing Kinsler to score from first on a double by Elvis Andrus. Kinsler got a good read on the ball, seeing that it was going to get over the head of Coco Crisp, who was not playing deep in center. The hit gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead. Andrus' bat is really working. He hit .381 (8-for-21) on the recent six-game road trip.

* Give Andrus credit for running hard with two outs. He was sprinting from second when third baseman Scott Sizemore bounced a throw to first on a ground ball by Adrian Beltre. First baseman Brandon Allen wasn't able to glove it and Andrus scored to make it 4-2.

* Josh Hamilton was scratched from the lineup because his wife, Katie, went into labor and had the couple's fourth child (all girls). Stella Faith was born at 6:35 p.m. and mother and child are doing well. For more, click here.

* Gentry, who wasn't even in the lineup until Hamilton was scratched (birth of his fourth child), started the seventh with a bunt single off reliever Michael Wuertz. The speed got things going. He stole second (even on a pitch out) and then scored on Andrus' single. The Rangers just kept hitting with five straight singles (Gentry, Kinsler, Andrus, Young, Beltre) before a pitching change. Texas scored four runs in the inning.

* Moreland, who was 3-for-31 with 11 strikeouts in his last 10 games, had two hits. That included a single against lefty Craig Breslow. Moreland was batting .231 against lefties coming into the game.

* Mike Adams came in for relief and gave up a two-run homer to Matsui. He has allowed three homers since coming to the Rangers.

* Young had four RBIs thanks in large part to a bases-clearing double in the eighth that made it 11-4. By the way, the 9-1-2-3 batters scored all 11 runs for the Rangers. And the Nos. 2-6 hitters had all but one of the RBIs.

* Napoli hit his 25th homer of the season and he belted it to right-center and easily over the Rangers' bullpen. He is now one home run shy of his career-high, set last year with LAA. It was 428 feet without a jet stream.

* Neftali Feliz got an inning of work after not pitching in the last six games.

Oakland starter Brandon McCarthy is done for the evening after taking a line drive off of the right knee in the fourth inning.

McCarthy, who recovered from a six-run Rangers second with a 1-2-3 third, had one out when Endy Chavez drilled a line drive up the middle that appeared to strike the starter around his right knee.

The ball ricocheted to the vast first-base foul territory at O.co Coliseum, and Chavez advanced to second.

McCarthy was down for a few minutes in obvious pain before walking off his limp and leaving the game. Reliever Trystan Magnuson took his place on the mound.

Ian Kinsler would bring Chavez home with a single to center for a 7-0 Rangers lead. Two batters later, Michael Young brought Kinsler and Elvis Andrus home with a single, and the Rangers have a 9-0 lead in the fourth.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Game 3 of the pre-All-Star break four-game series against Oakland features RHP Colby Lewis against a familiar face -- RHP Brandon McCarthy. Here is a quick look at the matchup:

Lewis (8-7, 4.29 ERA): Lewis is 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA over his last four starts… He picked up a 13-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles in his last start on July 4, throwing seven innings (110 pitches) and allowing three runs on five hits, striking out four and walking three… The Independence Day win was his 10^th quality start in his last 13 starts… However, the two homers he gave up raised his season total to an AL-high 22… Right-handers are batting .189 against Lewis (seventh-lowest in the AL), but left-handers are driving him for a .307 average.

McCarthy (1-5, 3.33 ERA): McCarthy is making his second start since coming off the DL on July 3 with a stress reaction in his right scapula… The 28-year-old is 0-5 over his last seven starts, the worst stretch of his career… Lost 2-1 to Oakland on July 4, throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five… Has had six career stints on the DL… McCarthy pitched for the Rangers in 2007-09… His best season in Texas was 2009 when he went 7-4 with a 4.62 ERA in 17 starts.

Hitters: Adrian Beltre has by far the most experience against McCarthy, going 6-for-17 with six RBIs, two doubles and a home run. Next in line is Michael Young, who has gone 3-for-8 with five RBIs, a double and a home run… As a team, the Rangers are batting .293 against McCarthy… Oakland’s lineup has seen Lewis numerous times with limited success against the righty, batting .250 as a team… Hideki Matsui is 6-for-16, and Ryan Sweeney is 3-for-9 against Lewis… Lewis has given up six long balls to the A’s.

Former Rangers RHP Brandon McCarthy is close to a deal with the Oakland A's, according to our colleagues at ESPN.com. The report also notes that Hideki Matsui is also close to signing with Oakland, which would keep him in the AL West for another year.

It was nearly four years ago (the trade was completed on Dec. 23, 2006) that GM Jon Daniels traded pitching prospects John Danks, Nick Masset and Jacob Rasner for McCarthy. The thought at the time was that McCarthy was further along in his progression to the majors than Danks. But McCarthy couldn't stay healthy. He didn't pitch in the majors in 2010 and from 2007 to 2009 as a Ranger, McCarthy was 13-15 with a 4.68 ERA in 221 innings pitched. He pitched at least seven innings just four times in his Rangers' career, all of them in 2009.

Maybe a change of scenery will help McCarthy. The same could be said about Matsui. His numbers weren't bad in 2010 for the Angels: .274 average with 21 homers and 84 RBIs. But he didn't have nearly the impact that Vladimir Guerrero did in Texas after the Angels let him go.

The Rangers have outrighted RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP Doug Mathis and INF Esteban German. That means all three are off the 40-man roster and are free agents.

The move likely brings an end to the Rangers career of Brandon McCarthy. The 26-year-old just couldn't stay healthy enough in his career with Texas. He had five disabled list stints before 2010 and was back on the DL again with right shoulder inflammation and never did get back to the big leagues this past season.

McCarthy was traded from the White Sox to Texas along with outfielder David Paisano for LHP John Danks and RHPs Nick Masset and Jacob Rasner on Dec. 23, 2006. He had pitched well in 2005 for the White Sox and the Rangers felt he was a fast-forwarded version of Danks. But McCarthy just couldn't stay healthy and never did find consistent command in the majors.

He was 5-10 with a 4.87 ERA in 2007 and then pitched just 22 innings with the Rangers in 2008, going 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA and was 7-4 with a 4.62 ERA in 2009 in 97 1/3 innings pitched. He was on the DL with various issues, including a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade (that happened twice), a right middle finger blister and inflammation in the right forearm.

Mathis was on the club's Opening Day roster but pitched in just 13 relief appearances (22 1/3 innings), posting a 1-1 mark and a 6.04 ERA. He had a 5.66 ERA in 18 games (15 starts) for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

German's contract was purchased on Sept. 6 and he was added to the postseason roster for the ALDS. But he played in 13 games for the Rangers in 2010 and made just 13 at-bats. He did not get to hit in the postseason.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Rangers believe that if Derek Holland's knee doesn't have any more setbacks, he can return to the club some time soon after the All-Star break.

Holland's shoulder has improved to the point where the club doesn't feel it's an issue. But he did have a recurrence of the same right knee issues that plagued him in spring training. The official injury is a right knee cap subluxation.

The plan is that he'll rest and rehab the next few days and start his throwing program again later this weekend or early next week. He will then have to ramp up to a rehab assignment before he can be reinserted into the rotation. That appears to be some time just after the mid-July All-Star break, if he doesn't have any other issues.

Other injury news:

* RHP Brandon McCarthy, who has dealt with numerous injuries since he was acquired in a deal that involved, among others, LHP John Danks, has been shut down with right shoulder stiffness. It's not known when he might resume throwing activities.

* RHP Eric Hurley had a third surgery on his hand in Scottsdale. The second screw started backing out, so they put it back in place. He will not be able to throw for 6 to 8 weeks.

RHP Alexi Ogando, Frisco - Ogando might be the story of the Texas organiation so far in 2010. His fairy tale continues, as his return to the U.S. this winter was followed by a successful, prolonged stay in major league game action in spring training and now domination of the Texas League. With a fastball that sits in the 95-96 range and touches the upper 90s even in longer appearances and a surprising slider/changeup offspeed combo, Ogando has hardly been touched in three 3-4 inning starts. A four inning, eight strikeout performance Sunday raised his totals to 9.2 IP, 2 H, 0 HR, 2 BB, 14 K. Frisco opened the season with two of the most intriguing and unproven players in the system in Ogando and reliever Tanner Scheppers, and it is hard to imagine how things could be going any better. It is also hard to see how the TL will provide serious competition for the pair for much longer.

LHP Derek Holland, OKC - Holland was a tough luck loser Friday, as a pair of errors and three eighth inning hits led to two unearned runs and ruined another excellent start. Through seven innings, Holland had allowed just two hits and no walks. For the season Holland sports a 0.67 ERA and an equally impressive 27 IP, 22 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 21 K line, and he has averaged just shy of seven innings per start. Much was made over the weekend of Rich Harden's struggles and Holland's potential to replace him, but the important fact for Holland is that he keeps getting better.

RHP Brandon McCarthy, OKC - He's not a prospect, but how is McCarthy's overhaul going? While he is overshadowed in OKC's rotation by Holland, McCarthy has seen positive early results in his transformation into a ground ball inducing innings eater in Triple-A. He has completed at least seven innings in each of his four starts, allowed just 18 hits and one home run in 28.2 innings, and his 18/5 K/BB ratio suggests that he has maintained improved control of the strike zone. Taking a closer look, his BABIP against of .207 is not sustainable, so he can expect to yield more hits, but his 53% ground ball rate is up twelve percent from his rate in Texas last season and ten percent up from last summer's five start stint for OKC. He is a nice luxury as a 7th-8th starter that few organizations can match.

OF David Paisano, Bakersfield - I haven't said too much about Paisano's quick start (.370/.431/.543 in 56 PA) because it is not even approaching sustainable, as his .432 BABIP and single digit line drive rates disclose. But taking a step back from his over-the-top hit rate and extremely friendly hitting environment, his start is still a positive. Paisano and Jake Rasner, now a Double-A reliever, are the two remaining variables from the infamous John Danks/Brandon McCarthy deal, and if nothing else Texas may be able to boast the more promising of the final pair of prospects. Paisano is an excellent defender, arguably the best in the Texas system, but his bat has come slowly. His first modest success in the U.S. came last year, as he split his year between the two Class A affiliates and posted an evenly distributed .263/. 336/.372 line, a 33/105 BB/SO ratio, 4 HR, and an ugly 11-18 SB rate. As mentioned, the batting average will plummet, and his extra base rate is almost equal, but his very early 5/9 BB/SO and 4-4 SB rates do show improvement.

OF Miguel Velazquez, Hickory - Velazquez had one of his better days as a pro Sunday, homering (#2), singling and walking to raise his season line to .288/.347/.515. Those numbers don't quite qualify Velazquez for breakout status, but a successful transition from short-season ball to the SAL is always a positive. His power potential and contact ability make him one of the better hitting prospects in the system, and his athleticism has found him patrolling center field at times this spring. His five walk, 14 strikeout ratio in 72 plate appearances can be improved upon and will serve as a good measure for his progress at the new level as the season advances.

RHP Braden Tullis, Hickory - Extremely easy to lose in the Hickory pitching shuffle but posting good numbers, including a 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 5 GB/1 FB outing Saturday
LHP Michael Kirkman, OKC - Best AAA start Sunday, 8 IP (99 pitches) and only one hit, but can still improve on 6/4 K/BB
RHP Blake Beavan, Frisco - Faltered Saturday for the first time in his four starts, as his command let him down: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

Before I get to the Oklahoma City roster, here is a quick overview of where the top talent in the Texas system has been assigned. The number in parenthesis is the player’s rank in the organization in Baseball America’s prospect handbook.

Texas: Neftali Feliz (1)
Oklahoma City: Justin Smoak (2), Mitch Moreland (8), Max Ramirez (11), Michael Kirkman (16), Guillermo Moscoso (19), Pedro Strop (23), Craig Gentry (28), Brandon McCarthy, Derek Holland, Omar Beltre
Frisco: Martin Perez (3), Tanner Scheppers (4), Kasey Kiker (6), Blake Beavan (17), Alexi Ogando
Bakersfield: Engel Beltre (14), Tommy Mendonca (18), Michael Main (21), Jake Brigham (25), Wilfredo Boscan (27)
Hickory: Robbie Ross (7), Wilmer Font (10), Joe Wieland (12), Leury Garcia (15), Miguel Velazquez (22), Neil Ramirez (24), Andrew Doyle (29), Chad Bell, Robbie Erlin
Extended spring training/suspended/injured: Jurickson Profar (5), Danny Gutierrez (9), Luis Sardinas (13), Omar Poveda (20), Tomas Telis (26), Richard Alvarez (30), Jorge Alfaro

The main theme among the Rangers’ full season squads this season is abundant pitching and scarce hitting, illustrated by the above list, which includes 24 pitchers and just 12 position players. The AAA roster doesn’t oppose this trend, but it is more balanced. Three-fifths of the rotation - Brandon McCarthy, Derek Holland and Guillermo Moscoso - will be watched with a close eye each outing, as each could be called on when any pitching need arises. The threesome combined for 38 starts and 60 overall appearances for Texas in 2009. Lefties Michael Kirkman and Michael Ballard round out the rotation. The bullpen should be led by returnees Pedro Strop and Willie Eyre, along with returnee to the country, Omar Beltre.

The club boasts a strong set of corner bats in outfielders Mitch Moreland, Brandon Boggs and Chad Tracy, infielders Justin Smoak and Matt Brown, and catcher/1B Max Ramirez. CF Craig Gentry will receive his first extended opportunity to succeed above the AA level, and the threesome of newly acquired middle infielders who could not beat out Joaquin Arias for a spot on the opening day roster in Arlington have landed in OKC. See the full roster here and (by Thursday) here.

Five players to watch:

Michael Kirkman - While Kirkman began 2008 still kicking as a professional player, his career had fallen off the tracks. He was a fifth round choice back in 2005 and was a highly regarded talent entering professional ball, but 2006 and 2007 brought injuries and more walks than strikeouts. He’s bounced back in a big way, dominating the hitters haven California League early last season and earning a promotion to AA. He has passed first rounders Kasey Kiker and Blake Beavan to win this AAA rotation spot, and he might be just a year away from winning a role somewhere on the big league staff. The big lefty has a low 90s fastball to lead his four pitch arsenal and is back on the map in a big way.

Justin Smoak - When the Rangers drafted Justin Smoak in the first round in 2008, he joined a cluster of exciting, young position players who had not yet established themselves in the big leagues - Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Chris Davis, Elvis Andrus, Julio Borbon, Nelson Cruz, Max Ramirez and Taylor Teagarden. While things have not gone smoothly for the catchers or first baseman, all but Ramirez have established important roles for the major league club. Smoak begins this season looking to join the group. He has no spot right now, with Davis and Ryan Garko handling first base duties and Vlad Guerrero slotted at DH. But things can change, and the Rangers would love for the big switch-hitter to be ready to step in if an opening arises. In the worst case for Smoak, a strong Triple-A season will impact the club’s plans for 2011, regardless of how well Davis, Garko and Guerrero perform.

Omar Beltre - Beltre returns to American baseball six years later and two levels higher than when he last threw a pitch for Stockton of the Cal League. He has always been a serious prospect, and he still has major league stuff, but he will attempt to shake off the dust from a right arm that has seen little worthy competition from 2005-09 while facing much more advanced competition than he has faced in the U.S. Though he has a full repertoire, the club will use him in relief, as it did in 2004 when he returned from two years off from elbow reconstruction.

Derek Holland - You know all about Holland, but while he is no longer considered a prospect in a technical sense, by any measure he is one of the 3-4 most significant minor leaguers in this organization. He has a tall order in front of him if he wants to return to the big league rotation soon - Brandon McCarthy and soon Tommy Hunter will also be looking to regain their spots - but he has the talent. More than any minor leaguer aside from possibly Tanner Scheppers, Holland has the ability to become one of the most important players on the Rangers this season, despite starting the season a level lower than he would prefer.

Mitch Moreland - Moreland most likely will not be the first OKC outfielder to get a major league call if one should be needed. That distinction will probably belong to Brandon Boggs or Craig Gentry, both members of the 40-man roster. He is the best prospect of the group, though, and he carries easily the most impressive career line (.321/.387/.518) into this season. While Moreland’s bat will carry him to the majors, his glove must open the gate. Despite his terrific arm, Moreland would currently be a major step down defensively from any of the three primary corner outfielders on the big club, and being limited to first base and designated hitter would significantly raise the bar offensively. So a major question for Moreland to answer this season is whether he can become an adequate outfielder.

Today is the official start of baseball season, although most teams don't start until Monday. As spring training opened, we expected a rotation of Rich Harden, Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter, Colby Lewis and either Derek Holland or Brandon McCarthy. C.J. Wilson and Neftali Feliz were going to be given opportunities to win rotation spots, but few expected either to do so.

Now we know that Holland and McCarthy will be in AAA, Hunter will be working his way back to good health, Matt Harrison will be in the rotation after catching management’s attention early, and C.J. Wilson will be viewed as an upper half of the rotation guy, as he has continued to look better and better. As we open the season, Harrison’s spot appears to be the most tenuous. He struggled late in the spring as he attempted to perfect his off-speed offerings and his overall command.

Among the four listed above who did not win rotation spots, Hunter should receive the first opportunity. Once his strained oblique heals, he will most likely go to Oklahoma City to rehab and begin to fight for his spot. McCarthy has a lot to work on, as he is in the process of completely overhauling his repertoire and approach. A stay in AAA should be ideal for him, but both his progress and the performance of Harrison, Hunter, Holland and maybe even Lewis will factor into his timetable to return to the majors. Make no mistake, though. As frustrating McCarthy’s injury-riddled and inconsistent tenure with the Rangers has been, for a club with playoff expectations, he is welcome rotation depth.

It is worth noting that despite the fact that Holland never really challenged for a rotation spot, his stock within the organization is not down at all. Like McCarthy, Holland should benefit from some time in AAA to add the finishing touches to his game. We saw Holland look nearly unhittable at times in 2009, and we saw his pitches and command periodically disappear. He is right where he should be, and there is every reason to think that he could be an impact player for the Rangers later in the season.

Over the winter, as the club mulled how to use Feliz in 2010, a popular notion emerged. Texas could “Joba” Feliz: start him in the bullpen, send him to AAA for a bit in the middle of the season, and then plug him into the rotation for the stretch run. I suspect that, among their innermost thoughts, Jon Daniels, Nolan Ryan and Mike Maddux have not completely extinguished that notion, but it has not been discussed publicly this spring, and it appears even less likely with Wilson’s emergence. Feliz as a starter most likely will be revisited in 2011 at the earliest.

Who else should hold a bit of our attention as the season progresses? Who has not been mentioned here, but could make a difference for this team as Feliz and Hunter did last season? Three things to keep in mind:

1. Don’t expect anyone else to impact the rotation in a serious way this season. Eric Hurley will be returning, but he has a major task in front of him in returning from a very serious injury. The Rangers have a few other upper-level starting prospects, but they are not impact arms at this point, and handing the ball to them would fall more into the "scary" category.

2. The two pitching prospects in Texas’ system are Martin Perez and Tanner Scheppers, but either making a start for the Rangers this season would be a huge surprise. Perez turns 19 years old today, Scheppers has yet to throw an official pitch in affiliated baseball, and the club will be very strict with each pitcher’s workload. That should preclude both from starting major league games late in the season, no matter how good they look.

3. A variety of guys could help the bullpen. Omar Beltre, Guillermo Moscoso, Pedro Strop, Warner Madrigal -- we will likely see all of them, and any could provide a surprisingly positive boost. There are two, though, who appear to have the package to be electric additions, guys who could turn this bullpen into a different creature if their games come together in time: Scheppers and Alexi Ogando. They have been two of the big stories of camp, Ogando surviving several cuts as the Rangers apparently couldn’t get enough looks at him, and Scheppers showing folks like Ryan such talent that they are beginning to believe that he can front their rotation in time. Watch for these two names this spring. They will start in Frisco, and they could be major factors in Arlington within a few months.

Editor's Note: Darren O'Day writes a weekly blog entry for ESPNDallas.com. This week he looks at the end of spring training and preparing for Opening Day. O'Day said he got a little overexcited about being back in the mound (following a bone bruise) and ended up throwing too many pitches. But he was pleased with how he felt and said "it was a step in the right direction."

I'm writing this as Major League Two plays in the background, and Brandon McCarthy and I both agree that Charlie Sheen has some pretty solid mechanics. For some reason, pokerface doesn't elicit the same fan reactions as "Wild Thing". Every time I see Rick Vaughn come out to it, I get goosebumps. The atmosphere is so electric in those movies, it makes me think of all the times I've been in that situation.

As we pack up to head to Dallas, there are a few things I'm going to miss about spring training and some I will not. Phoenix golf is exceptional, especially when you have afternoons to take advantage of it. Early in camp, I got to play quite a bit, and my favorite course out here is still The Raven at Verrado. It's a really challenging desert/mountain course that is worth every penny. We had a nice group of Scott Feldman, Derek Holland, Tommy Hunter, McCarthy, myself, and former Ranger Josh Rupe early in spring and had a great time. Well, Holland and I had fun blasting drives 200 yards into the desert, while McCarthy was getting a little frustrated with our play. Apparently, it was Sunday at Augusta, and he had a one-shot lead. I guess you have to take the game seriously when you half jokingly dub yourself "The Shakespeare of Golf."

As much as I will miss Arizona, I couldn't be happier to be heading back to Texas. Opening Day is nearing, and everyone is getting antsy to play some games that count. Opening Day is awesome, for rookies and veterans alike. This is my third opening day, with a third different team. Last year I was with the Mets at the inaugural game at Citi Field. Even though my time with them was brief, to be there for a stadium opening of a such a storied organization was pretty momentus.

I just learned that Roger Staubach will be throwing out the first pitch, and was asked to give him some advice. I am totally unqualified to be giving advice. Just two weeks ago, I hit third base coach Dave Anderson with what was supposed to be an easy pitch during a team bunt drill. He was standing in the batters box, and I squared him up right in the thigh, it looked like it really hurt. Everyone had a good laugh, except for Dave. Hopefully, Mr. Staubach hits the catcher right in the mitt, and nobody gets hurt.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Here's a look at six issues from Wednesday at spring training for the Rangers.

1. Chuck Greenberg said his group isn't likely to assume control of the team by Opening Day. But he also isn't surprised or worried about that. This is a complicated deal involving 40 lenders and it takes time to get everything in place. Greenberg says this won't impact his ownership. The timeframe looks like mid-April.

2. The club traded for infielder Gregorio Petit, sending RHP Edwar Ramirez to the A's to get him. Petit gives the club some more depth as they search for a utility infielder. The club is looking at other external options, but hasn't found anything that is better than what they already have in Joaquin Arias or Esteban German. Petit will get about 10 days to impress the Rangers. He appeared in 25 games the last two seasons with the A's. That utility infield position is an important one, especially considering Ian Kinsler is still not back to playing games yet. He expects to be back, but injuries pop up in the infield and it's critical to have someone ready to go that is reliable.

3. Some injury news: C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (muscle spasms in neck/back) will take some swings in batting practice on Thursday and, if all goes well, could DH in a minor league game on Friday. 2B Ian Kinsler is targeting Monday for a return to game action. He tested the ankle some on Wednesday, but hasn't run on it yet. He is swinging a bat off a tee. The Rangers are not concerned about his availability for Opening Day at this point. I talked with Kinsler on video today.

4. The bullpen was a topic of conversation today. Without C.J. Wilson in the bullpen (the Rangers have lined up their rotation for the season and that includes Wilson at this point), it alters things. Click here for a look at the bullpen, including a video I did with Chris Ray on Wednesday. BTW, Darren O'Day (bone bruse) threw on flat ground on Wednesday and will throw longer and with more intensity on Thursday. He said he usually finds his command pretty quickly in spring training, so he doesn't think it would take him too many innings to be ready for the season once he's cleared to get on a mound.

5. RHP Brandon McCarthy struggled again on Wednesday. He threw 45 pitches in a first inning where he gave up four runs. He ended up lasting just 3 1/3 innings and surrendered eight hits to go along with four walks and a strikeout. Manager Ron Washington said the club has not looked at McCarthy as a reliever, saying that McCarthy needs his routine. "I'm not going to say totally no to it, but it's not anything we've discussed," Washington said. The club could try to trade McCarthy or send him to the minors. He would have to clear waivers.

6. Check out Jim Reeves' column here on ESPNDallas.com about the Rangers catching situation. Reeves says it could be this club's Achilles' heel this season.