Series: Rangers lead, 1-0

LHP A.J. Murray (first start of 2008): With three members of the starting rotation on the disabled list, Murray will be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma for what should be just a one-start promotion. Murray made two starts for the Texas Rangers last year, allowing four runs in 11 innings against Los Angeles and Seattle. He did not face the A's as a reliever. Murray was 2-0 with a 4.18 ERA in six starts for Oklahoma.

Update: On the same day the Rangers traded Mark Teixeira last July, they acquired David Murphy in a separate deal. Entering Friday, the duo had almost exactly the same batting averages and on-base-plus-slugging percentages for 2008. Teixeira was hitting .273 with a .797 OPS; Murphy was at .278 with a .797 OPS.

RHP Chad Gaudin (3-1, 3.00 ERA): Gaudin enters with a three-game winning streak during which he's allowed only two runs in 20 innings. In that stretch, he's walked three and struck out 16. Gaudin made six starts against the Rangers last year, going 2-3 with a 5.94 ERA. He was 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in Oakland in three of those starts, all of which were quality starts.

Loves to face: Gerald Laird (1-for-7)

Hates to face: Michael Young (10-for-18)

Update: Frank Thomas went 7-for-27 (.259) with seven walks for a .412 on-base percentage in his first eight games with the A's. Thomas was 2-for-15 with six walks and no extra-base hits in four appearances against Texas last month before Toronto released him.