Vicente Padilla has been very solid this season and that’s a good thing after he was horrible last year. He has started 11 games this season for the Rangers and he is 6-2 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He has stepped up into the #1 starter role that was to belong to Kevin Millwood who is injured right now. Padilla’s pitching was a big reason for the recent hot streak the Rangers are on right now.

The Texas Rangers have designated righty reliever Franklyn German for assignment. German pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Rangers this season and he was 1-3 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. German had issues with walks as he had 13 of them in only 21.2 innings. The Rangers will likely have to trade him in the next 10 days or they will definately lose him on waivers as arms like his don’t grow on trees. The Rangers have recalled 26-year old righty reliever Kameron Loe to replace German on the roster. Loe pitched in 16 games (0 starts) in AAA ball this season and he was 2-3 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Loe will pitch in long relief tonight.

The Rangers have placed righty starting pitcher Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin. Millwood has started 9 games this season for the Rangers and he is 2-3 with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. Millwood will be replaced on the roster by 24-year old righty Doug Mathis who might replace him in the rotation. Mathis has started 7 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 5-0 with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.

The Rangers have designated 1B Ben Broussard for assignment because of his poor play this season. He played in 26 games this season for the Rangers and he was 13 for 82 (.159 avg, .493 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers and 8 RBIs. Broussard will be replaced by a platoon of Frank Catalanotto and Chris Shelton. Catalanotto has played in 27 games this season for the Rangers and he is 19 for 73 (.260 avg, .790 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. Shelton is off to a rough start this season in 7 games as he is 2 for 19 (.105 avg, .490 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Catalanotto and Shelton will likley have no problem out performing Broussard.

19-year old shortstop Elvis Andrus is the #1 rated prospect according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. They got him in the Mark Teixiera to the Braves last season. He has played in 29 games in AA-ball so far this season and he is 33 for 125 (.264 avg, .617 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 13 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Andrus is blocked at the major league level by Michael Young so the Rangers will likely take it slow with him.