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Rangers-Yankees Preview

Jun 2, 2009 - 9:51 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Texas (30-20) at New York (30-21), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Two months into the season, the Texas Rangers find themselves atop the AL West. Staying there won't be easy, though.

Coming off an outstanding May, the first-place Rangers open a difficult stretch Tuesday night with a three-game series against the AL East-leading New York Yankees in the Bronx.

After entering May 2 1/2 games out of first place in the West, Texas (30-20) opens June with a 4 1/2-game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Angels. The Rangers, whose three-game winning streak ended with Sunday's 5-4 loss to Oakland, went an AL-best 20-9 in May for the second-highest win total in a month in club history.

"That means we played well in May, that's about it," second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "We had a good month. It's a new month now and we need to start over and continue to play well. It's going to be tough."

The next two weeks could determine just how strong Texas is. It plays 13 games in as many days against four teams with winning records.

After playing the Yankees (30-21), the Rangers have three at Boston. Texas then returns home for a four-game set against Toronto and three versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, owners of baseball's best record.

The series against New York has added importance for Texas, which dropped two of three to the Yankees at Rangers Ballpark last week.

"Bring it on," Rangers manager Ron Washington told the team's official Web site. "If we're going to get where we want to get, we have to go through them. It's a pretty good experience, but I feel we're going to handle it well."

Texas will be without slugger Josh Hamilton, who's headed to the disabled list with a strained groin that could sideline him from two weeks to two months. He sustained the injury May 17 against the Los Angeles Angels when he crashed into the outfield wall making a leaping catch.

While Hamilton will go on the DL, Vicente Padilla (3-2, 4.71 ERA) is scheduled to come off it to start the series opener.

Padilla, out with a strained right shoulder, hasn't pitched since allowing three runs and 10 hits in eight innings of a 5-3 win over the Angels on May 16. The right-hander went 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in three starts prior to going on the DL.

In his only start against the Yankees last season on Aug. 8, Padilla gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings of a 9-5 win, but didn't factor in the decision. He's 1-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three career starts versus New York.

The Yankees are coming off Monday's 5-2 win over Cleveland, improving to a major league-best 15-4 since May 13.

New York, which has a one-game lead over the second-place Red Sox in the East, looks to increase its advantage with 13 of its next 16 contests at Yankee Stadium, where it's won eight of 10.

Mark Teixeira has five home runs in his last seven home games and is batting .397 (23 for 58) with eight homers, five doubles and 20 RBIs during a career-high 14-game hitting streak. The former Ranger was 5 for 14 with two home runs and five RBIs at Texas last week and is 2 for 7 with two homers lifetime versus Padilla.

A.J. Burnett (3-2, 4.78), who led the Yankees to a victory at Rangers Ballpark last week, takes the hill in the opener.

Burnett allowed three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in six shutout innings of Wednesday's 9-2 win, his first victory since beating Tampa Bay on April 14. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA in six career starts versus the Rangers.