Aaron Sele

At Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay Time TV StartersTonight 7: 35 HTS Aaron Sele (9-6, 5.56) vs. Mike Mussina (13-4, 3.44)Tomorrow 7: 35 HTS John Burkett (3-4, 5.91) vs. Scott Erickson (6-8, 5.49)Wednesday 3: 05 54, 50 Mike Morgan (10-6, 5.36) vs. Juan Guzman (5-8, 4.21)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Rangers updateTwo of baseball's hottest teams hook up in this series. The Rangers have won eight in a row, and 10 of 11 since the All-Star break, including a 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday that included homers by former Orioles Rafael Palmeiro and Todd Zeile.

RangersThat was then: Juan Gonzalez had 157 RBIs, most in the AL since 1949, and Texas went 5-for-5 against Anaheim in the last two weeks to win the division. The Rangers hit just .141 in a Division Series sweep by the Yankees.This is now: Texas signed first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who should take advantage of the Ballpark's short right field.Upside: Palmeiro and a full season of shortstop Royce Clayton should solidify an infield defense that went in the past three seasons from 59 errors to 74 to 90.Downside: Rick Helling and Aaron Sele (28-35 the previous two years)

Quote: "Yeah, I'd be nervous if I was a fan." -- Steve Avery of the Red Sox, whose wild-card lead has dropped to three.It's a fact: Jeff Branson's six pinch hits are the most by an Indians player since Jerry Browne had 11 in 1991.Who's hot: The Athletics' Jason Giambi has reached base in his past 29 games.Who's not: Since moving a season-high 26 games over .500 on Aug. 26, the Red Sox are 5-12.On deck: The Rangers' Aaron Sele (18-10) and the Red Sox's Pedro Martinez (18-5) go for their 19th victories tonight.

Rangers: Texas is 43-18 in games started by Rick Helling and Aaron Sele. They are 36-50 in the rest of their games. Juan Gonzalez singled twice after having a 20-game hitting streak stopped Friday night. He leads the majors with 149 RBIs, although he has gone four straight games without driving in a run.Red Sox: Third baseman John Valentin played one inning in the field after being hit in the arm by a pitch in the third then left the game in the top of the fifth with a bruised nerve in his right elbow.

Quote: "It was a thrill. Normally it's saved for major milestones. I thank the fans for it. It's very special when you pass somebody as big as Babe Ruth. It's a big day in my career."-- The Devil Rays' Wade Boggs, who left to a standing ovation after singling to pass Babe Ruth for 33rd in career hits.It's a fact: Last night's game was the last of 12 straight against AL West opponents for the Royals. They went 5-7 over that span.Who's hot: The Angels' Garret Anderson has a 24-game hitting streak.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers emerged from The Ballpark's first-base dugout last night and were greeted by an unstoppable force of nature that threatened to suck the air from their lungs.And did anyone mention it was pretty warm?While the Texas flatlands contend with a month set on broil, the Orioles continue to justify the faith of those who still see them as more than second-half schedule-filler. The Orioles didn't just beat the Rangers last night before 45,171 fan-wavers, they capped a two-game wipeout of a club that embarrassed them earlier this season.

At The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas)' Day, Time, TV, StartersTonight, 8: 35, HTS, Sidney Ponson (2-6, 5.94) vs. Rick Helling(12-4, 4.12)Tomorrow, 8: 35, Ch. 54, 50, Scott Erickson (9-7, 4.06) vs. Aaron Sele (12-5, 3.94)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Rangers updateThe Rangers (51-42) are one of the teams ahead of the Orioles (44-50) in the wild-card chase, though they've set their sights higher. They are a half-game behind first-place Anaheim in the AL West, despite three straight losses.