NEWS » itself at the TD Garden on Monday night. "I think on the su

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- One would never know by looking at the standings, but the Texas Rangers starting pitchers have hit a bump in the road of late. They are hoping it doesnt result in a detour on the way to the American League West title.The Rangers starting five of Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels, Martin Perez, A.J. Griffin and Derek Holland went a combined 1-4 with an 11.70 ERA their last time through the rotation.Darvish started a new cycle Friday against the Los Angeles Angels and pitched well, giving up one run in 6 2/3 innings. Hamels (14-5, 3.25 ERA) starts Saturdays game against the Angels, and is hoping Darvishs performance will be the spark it needs to help the rotation work its way out of the funk.Its tough, Hamels told MLB.com. There are little things that you go through during the season. You get tired and something might change. As much as wed like to be automatics, youve got to keep fine-tuning it. Youre not going to be at your best unless you push it to a higher level.The Rangers shouldnt feel too sorry for themselves, though, as the Angels start someone who hasnt pitched in the majors since June 13. And even when he was on a major league roster, he wasnt pitching very well.Right-hander Daniel Wright makes his Angels debut Saturday after being claimed off waivers from the Reds on Sept. 4. He will be the 15th pitcher to start for the Angels this year, the most in the American League.But hes getting a chance that is essentially an audition for next season.Hes an arm we want to take a look at, Angels manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com. Hes started (in the minors), so he should be stretched out enough. Its a chance to see what hes got.Wright is taking the spot on the rotation formerly held by right-hander Matt Shoemaker. Shoemaker was hit in the head by a line drive hit by Seattles Kyle Seager on Sept. 4 and suffered a small skull fracture and small hematoma.Shoemaker had to undergo surgery to stop the bleeding, but has since returned to his home in Southern California and is resting comfortably. He said he hopes to visit his teammates sometime on the current homestand.All of your loving comments has made it that much easier for me & my family. It is very much appreciated! So many genuine people, thank you, Shoemaker tweeted.Despite their respective places in the standings, the Angels have handled the Rangers well for the last couple years. Despite the 2-1 loss Friday the Angels are 7-7 versus Texas this season after going 12-7 last year.Since 2014, the Angels are 33-19 against the Rangers. Jack Ham Youth Jersey . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Jack Ham Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Jack-Butler-Jersey/ . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Dermontti Dawson Youth Jersey . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Greg Lloyd Steelers Jersey . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead.BOSTON - Joffrey Lupul is one rare Leaf with rich memories of Game 7. "I scored in overtime," he said with a laugh ahead of the all-or-nothing match with the Bruins on Monday night. It was the spring of 2008. Lupul and the Flyers were on the road for the decisive tilt in Americas capital, consecutive losses in Games 5 and 6 sending the series back to the Verizon Center. The now 29-year-old, one of only five Leafs with previous Game 7 experience, scored six minutes into overtime to catapult Philadelphia into the second round. "Thats the one great thing about Game 7s and just the playoffs in general," said Lupul, who has scored 17 goals in 45 career postseason games. "Maybe if you havent been satisfied with how things have went for you personally; I know theres some guys on the team that didnt have maybe the year that they wanted personally, statistic-wise, whatever. You go and make a big play tonight, set up a goal, score a huge goal tonight, thats all people are going to remember about your season." And so it was almost poetically, after his error in overtime of Game 4 led to the Bruins snatching a 3-1 series hold, that Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf made a "big play" on Sunday night, the 28-year-old tipping home the first goal in an emotionally charged 2-1 Game 6 victory. Phaneuf is one among many Leafs who have stepped to the forefront and improbably thrust the favoured Bruins onto the ropes in this series; James Reimer outdueled Tuukka Rask on consecutive nights, Phil Kessel iced a pair of game-winners, Clarke MacArthur scored a pair after sitting in the press box, Jake Gardiner rediscovered his rookie season form, James van Riemsdyk found another gear and Cody Franson continued a breakout campaign. "I tthink its good to want to be the hero for sure," said Lupul, a quiet force against the Bruins, tied for the team with three goals, second behind van Riemsdyk with four points.dddddddddddd "Obviously youre not going to go out there and just start playing an individual game or anything, but certainly you cant be afraid of big moments. I think every player should want to be the guy that makes a difference tonight." Despite facing elimination in the past two games and responding with gutsy efforts, Leafs coach Randy Carlyle expects the nerves to be ramped up when the series decides itself at the TD Garden on Monday night. "I think on the surface you can say that," Carlyle said of most recent do-or-die scenarios, "but I think inside theres going to be nervousness with everybody involved." "Got to win a game, thats what it is," he continued. "If were going to continue we have to win a hockey game." "I think guys are a little antsy," MacArthur conceded mid-morning on Monday. "Im actually glad its a back-to-back, get right back into this thing tonight. Were happy with the win last night, but at the same time theres still that big gap, you dont want to come this far and not be able to close the deal out." Unlike the Bruins, who were stranded in Toronto overnight with mechanical issues on their team plane, the Leafs landed in their downtown Boston hotel shortly before 2 a.m. The group reconvened for meetings in the morning, eager to rest and refresh ahead of the biggest game of the year and in many cases, career. "Probably havent played a game as big as this," Jay McClement grinned, one of the more experienced Leafs. "Game 7, Stanley Cup playoffs, doesnt get much bigger than that." ' ' '