Worth noting

• Daniels said Double A Frisco pitcher Cody Buckel is being limited to three inning starts while he tries to regain his command. Buckel, the Rangers' top ranked pitching prospect in MLB.com's Prospect Watch, has walked 22 in 12 innings over four starts, including six in three innings on Monday.

"He's healthy, he feels good, his arm is fine," Daniels said. "Obviously he's struggled to this point and he's working on things mechanically. The thought process is to take small steps and get him locked back in. He struggled in the first inning [Monday], but the second and third innings were better. He'll do it the same way next time. The guy is a premium strike-thrower, so this is out of character."

• Pujols was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts as designated hitter against the Rangers on Monday. He is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, but Washington still sees him as being quite dangerous.

"I don't care if he has plantar fasciitis, he can hit and he can hit anybody," Washington said. "I still see Pujols as the most dangerous man on earth, along with Miguel Cabrera, with a bat in his hand. I don't care what he looks like or what he's doing. The man knows what he is doing when he steps in the box. We're lucky we got him out last night."

• Rangers outfielder David Murphy is 1-for-19 in his career against Angels left-hander Jason Vargas, so he was out of the starting lineup on Tuesday with Jeff Baker starting in left field. Washington said the next time the Rangers face a left-hander, he could use Baker at first base and give Mitch Moreland the night off.

• The Rangers are scheduled to face two left-handers during their four-game series with the Twins. Right-hander Vance Worley is scheduled to pitch on Thursday, followed by left-handers Scott Diamond and Pedro Hernandez on Friday and Saturday. Right-hander Kevin Correia is scheduled for Sunday.