Sheldon gets work when Rangers rest

Sheldon started his third straight game Thursday night, this time in place of shortstop Royce Clayton, who is batting .176 in his last 10 games despite going 3-for-4 on Wednesday.

Sheldon played third base the previous two nights to give rookie third baseman Mike Lamb a chance to relax after a difficult stretch. Sheldon is 0-for-5 with a walk in the two nights.

"It's a little different; your body goes in a different mode," said Sheldon, who had started 18 games before Tuesday. "You're going in game motion, and you're more sore than you're used to being."

First call-up

Reliever Jonathan Johnson will be the first addition Friday when major league rosters expand to 40 players. Johnson, who had been held back from starting at Triple-A Oklahoma, gives the Rangers another option in the bullpen during a difficult 31-day stretch that doesn't end until Sept. 11.

The Rangers probably will wait for Triple-A Oklahoma's season to end on Sept. 4 before adding any more players. There's a strong possibility outfielder Ruben Sierra will be one of those additions.

Briefly

On Friday, Outfielder Gabe Kapler will play his first game in Detroit since being traded by the Tigers in this past off-season's Juan Gonzalez deal. He was on the disabled list when the Rangers went to Detroit in late May. ... Left-hander Darren Oliver made his final rehabilitation start Thursday night for Triple-A Oklahoma. He allowed three earned runs on five hits in 51/3 innings. Oliver, on the disabled list since Aug. 1 with weakness in his left shoulder, will take Brian Sikorski's spot in the rotation Tuesday in Chicago.

Todd Wills is a staff writer for the Arlington Morning News.