On Deck will be here all season to provide you with everything you need to know (and a few things you don't) about every Rangers series during the 2013 season.
The Opponent: The Indians were hot through the first month of the season but have since gone in a massive downward spiral, to the point that they've fallen from first place in the AL Central to below the .500 mark.
Past 2013 Meetings: This is the teams' first meeting of 2013 but the Rangers went 5-4 against Cleveland in nine matchups — six in Cleveland and three in Arlington.
Pitching Matchups: Monday — Josh Lindblom (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. Scott Kazmir (3-3, 5.24); Tuesday — Derek Holland (5-2, 2.82) vs. Corey Kluber (3-4, 4.56); Wednesday — Nick Tepesch (3-5, 3.92) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (4-4, 5.03).
What's Hot: A.J. Pierzynski has been on fire since returning from the disabled list and is now hitting .360 over the last week, good for a team-high if you throw out Mitch Moreland's numbers after he went on the DL after playing just two games this week. As for power, Adrian Beltre and Jeff Baker have taken over, socking three home runs apiece in that time.
For Cleveland, the free-swinging Drew Stubbs is making plenty of contact right now and is hitting .353 over his last five games with two home runs. Michael Bourn, who the Rangers were reportedly after this winter, is playing well too, hitting .308 over that stretch, and is the team's leading hitter for the season at .302.
What's Not: Lance Berkman has been in an awful way and got a day off on Sunday with hopes he can recharge on the Rangers' upcoming 11-game homestand. He has more strikeouts (five) than walks (four) over the last week, which is extremely rare for Berkman. Jurickson Profar and Elvis Andrus are in the midst of some terrible stretches, too.
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Legendary thorn-in-Rangers'-side Nick Swisher is hitting .043 over the last week and it would be nice for them if he continues that stretch.
Familiar Faces: There aren't many ties here, but there is one Ranger-Indian tie that plays well for the Rangers as Derek Holland grew up going to Indians games in Newark, Ohio, and has traditionally pitched very well against his hometown club.
