Tearing it Up
RUBEN’S MASTERPIECE ... Is that Ruben Mateo sneaking into the Top 20 of ESPN's "Most Dropped" list? Why? The flashy rookie stole two bases Sunday to increase his team-leading total to six, and is 9-for-9 in his big league career. Who doesn’t want a player hitting .295 and on pace for 25/95/25 on the roster? Go get him! ... Frank Catalanotto is 12 for his last 15 (.800) but is limited to PH/DH duties as he continues to battle a slight groin strain ... Chad Curtis knocked in his 24th run Sunday, matching his 1999 season total ... David Segui is 8-for-23 with six RBI on the current road trip.

Slumping
GROUP EFFORT ... Nearly the entire lineup has been in a funk on this road trip. Luis Alicea was just 4-for-23 before getting three hits Sunday ... Royce Clayton endured an 0-for-17 slump last week and has dropped to .235 on the year ... Mike Lamb came crashing down from his recent hot streak into a 1-for-17 slide that has lasted since Wednesday ... even old reliable Raffy Palmeiro is just 2-for-22 on the trip so far ... That’s four regulars combining for a .120 average ... Too bad they can't face teammate Mark Clark, who has allowed six or more runs in four of his last five starts.

At the Plate
BEHIND THE PLATE ... Last week the Rangers announced that Pudge Rodriguez will spend a week at Bucky Dent's Baseball School in Florida this offseason to begin learning another position, probably either 2B or 3B. However, Pudge is just 28 so the move is unlikely to occur for another 3-5 years. I-Rod, hitting .429 in May, is leading the Rangers in every major offensive category except SB, and only then because Johnny Oates has told him to stop running in order to concentrate on driving in runs. Don’t worry, Pudge owners -- Bill Haselman is not in your immediate future.

Probable Starters May 29, K. Rogers @ DET May 30, E. Loiaza @ DET May 31, D. Oliver @ DET June 2, R. Helling vs. AZ June 3, K. Rogers vs. AZ

From the Rubber
MR. MAY ... John Wetteland has 10 saves in the month of May to lead the majors, and recently broke Mike "Gas Can" Henneman’s team record by recording a save in his ninth consecutive appearance. In an interesting twist on recent expectations, Oates announced this week that when he needs to give Wetteland a day off, save situations will be split among Jeff Zimmerman, Tim Crabtree, and Mike Venafro, but that he would not use Francisco Cordero. No official reason was given, but it bears watching.

On the Mend
GOOD NEWS, OK NEWS ... Kenny Rogers returned earlier than expected from his strange "eye-poke" injury to pitch well in a loss to KC on Wednesday ... Rusty Greer is finally back and in the lineup, and though he looks -- well, rusty -- he seems to have regained a step ... Gabe Kapler has been recalled from a brief rehab stint at Oklahoma but remains on the DL and may be sent on another rehab assignment before being activated ... Darren Oliver complained of a "dead arm" and lost significant velocity in his most recent start, but has been cleared to take his regular turn Wednesday at Detroit.