Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

The dish

Rays at Rangers

When/where: 8 tonight; Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, Texas

TV/radio: ESPN; 620-AM, 1040-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers:

RAYS: RHP Matt Garza (6-5, 3.45)

RANGERS: RHP Scott Feldman (6-2, 4.09)

Watch for …

Good Garza: Garza is coming off two strong starts. He got back to his strengths, being aggressive and attacking with his fastball, to go 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA. In four starts against Texas, Garza is 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA.

Rough stretch: Feldman has won one of his past five starts but lasted at least six innings in four. Left-handers are hitting .217 against him, and he's 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts against the Rays.

Key matchups

vs. garza

Kinsler 4-for-13

Murphy 3-for-10, HR

Young 1-for-11

Vs. feldman

Crawford 1-for-5

Gross 1-for-3, HR

Bartlett 0-for-4

On deck

Monday: Off

Tuesday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:08, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (6-6, 3.50); Jays — Brad Mills (0-1, 14.09)

Stat of the day

Carl Crawford is one of four American Leaguers with 40 steals and 100 hits before the All-Star break:

Player Team Year Gms Steals Hits

Carl Crawford Rays 2009 81 40 104

Kenny Lofton Indians 1996 86 42 114

Kenny Lofton Indians 1994 84 45 129

Rickey Henderson Yankees 1986 87 50 100

Ron LeFlore Tigers 1979 90 49 105

Tribute of the day

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's famous retirement speech — "Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth." — former Rangers first baseman Pete O'Brien recited it during a pregame ceremony.

Number of the day

1.28 Increase in David Price's ERA due to Saturday's rough 11/3-inning outing (from 3.93 to 5.21)