Rangers notes: Consistent at-bats mean consistent bat for Moreland

Mitch Moreland’s success this season isn’t just about him being the healthiest he’s been in a couple of years.

It’s also about consistent at-bats, and Moreland knowing that on most days he’s going to be in the Texas Rangers’ lineup.

All of the above, manager Jeff Banister said, have helped Moreland with the best start of his career, including a team-leading 16 home runs and a .286 batting average going into the All-Star break.

“It definitely helps to know every day you walk in you’re going out there and playing,” said Moreland, who had his eighth career multi-homer game Saturday night, his third in the past 11 games. “You don’t really look over your shoulder. It helps you get into a little bit better routine, get a little more comfortable in there.”

“It helped me, and from the way it looks, he’s having a great year, too, so it might have helped him, too.”

“I think the relationship that those two have has kind of unlocked some of that confidence,” said Banister, who compared the pair to teammates in the film Remember the Titans.

One character calls another Strong Side, the other is called Left Side. Fielder calls Moreland Strong Side.

“I get to see that play out every day in the dugout. That relationship is kind of cool to watch,” Banister said.

Left-hander Matt Harrison expects to play catch during the All-Star break back home in North Carolina. Harrison will throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday in Houston before making his second start.

Harrison is coming off his first start in more than a year. He allowed six runs on six hits in four innings. He had no extra soreness following the start. He threw a bullpen session Saturday during which he tried smoothing out his delivery.

“Working on getting the timing right, getting my legs and upper body working at the same time,” he said. “It was really good at the end of the bullpen, so it’s just a matter of repeating that every single time.”