Season series: Rangers lead, 4-3

LHP Erik Bedard (2-2, 1.99 ERA): The Rangers scored two runs against Bedard last week in Seattle to beat him for the first time since 2005. Bedard's ERA against the Rangers since 2006 is 1.29. In that span, he has 42 strikeouts in 35 innings. In his last start in Arlington, Bedard pitched a two-hit shutout and struck out 15 batters. It was his first career victory in Texas.

Loves to face: Gerald Laird (1-for-13)

Hates to face: Milton Bradley (4-for-9)

Update: Seattle will go without 1B Richie Sexson for this series. He is serving a five-game suspension for charging the mound against Kason Gabbard last week. A bigger punishment for Seattle might have been making Sexson play. He was 2-for-19 against Texas in the teams' first two series.

RHP Vicente Padilla (5-2, 3.02 ERA): With a win tonight, Padilla would match his victory total for the entire 2007 season. Since getting beat up for seven runs in three innings at Detroit on April 22, Padilla has allowed just one earned run (three total) in 20 2/3 innings. He has not allowed the Mariners a run in his last 11 innings against them.

Loves to face: Kenji Johjima (2-for-10)

Hates to face: Ichiro Suzuki (16-for-28, HR)

Update: Now that the Rangers have faced left-handed starters with more regularity, they seem to be adjusting. After going 1-6 to start the season, the Rangers have won their last three games against lefty starters. This will be the sixth time in the last nine games they've faced a lefty.