Season series: Rangers lead, 9-4

LHP Matt Harrison (7-3, 5.76 ERA): Harrison needs one more win to set a franchise record for most wins by a left-handed rookie. He currently shares the mark with John Koronka (2006). Harrison is earning a reputation as an innings-eater. He's been to the sixth inning in his last three starts, four of his last five and five of his last seven. The Rangers are 5-1 when he's gone more than five innings. He has not faced any A's player more than three times.

Update: The Rangers began Thursday allowing 5.96 runs per game, on pace for 965 runs allowed. That would fall just shy of the franchise record of 974 set in 2000, but it would be only the 10th time in the last 65 years a club has allowed at least 960 runs.

LHP Greg Smith (7-14, 4.05 ERA): Smith won at Baltimore on Saturday, allowing the Orioles three hits and no runs in seven innings. He did, however, walk five. He has faced the Rangers three times this season and is 0-1, although Oakland has won two of the games. The Rangers seem to be figuring Smith out. He allowed a run in six innings in his first start but has been bashed around for 11 runs in 11 innings in the last two.

Loves to face: Josh Hamilton (2-for-9)

Hates to face: Brandon Boggs (3-for-5, HR)

Update: The A's began the series hitting a major-league worst .241 and threatening to finish as one of the worst-hitting teams since the AL expanded to 14 teams in 1977. Only four teams, including the 1979 (.239) and 1982 (.236) A's, have hit less than .240 in a season.