Holland, Rangers met with Charlie Sheen late Saturday

Derek Holland thought he’d had a pretty sweet night Saturday after tossing eight innings to beat the Los Angeles Angels, but then Charlie Sheen happened.

The actor, who played Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn in the movie Major League and is the inspiration for Holland’s current zigzag haircut, ducked into the Texas Rangers’ clubhouse after the game to meet Holland.

It was “awesomeness,” Holland said.

“I’d never met him. I didn’t know what I was getting into,” Holland said. “Winning. You can just put that,” a reference to Sheen’s famous Twitter hashtag.

It wasn’t just chance that brought Sheen to Angel Stadium. He was well aware of Holland’s haircut, and the two had appeared separately Friday on MLB Network’s Intentional Talk. Sheen contacted host Kevin Millar for Holland’s number, and the two exchanged texts Friday about coming to the game.

“He wanted to come, but he didn’t want to get in my way,” said Holland, who was impressed with Sheen’s baseball knowledge. “He was very respectful of my job and making sure that I was focused. After the game I texted him and told him, ‘Just get down here. We want to meet you.’

“He hung out with us and told us some really funny stories. He took a lot of pictures with the guys. He was very happy to be down here, and the crazy thing was to see how excited he was to see me and see the hair. He was really into it.”

But Holland and Sheen went their separate ways afterward, so there won’t be any TMZ video clips of the two partying the night away. Maybe another time.

“Who wouldn’t want to party with him?” Holland said. “I’m a single man. I want to go out and have some fun and enjoy myself, and that guy’s a party animal. But a day game today? No chance. I’m trying to make it here. I’m not trying to miss the game and miss my flight to Seattle.”

Scheppers activated

Right-hander Tanner Scheppers was officially recalled from Triple A Round Rock on Sunday, but lingering soreness in his left knee could limit how much he is used out of the Rangers’ bullpen.

Scheppers said that the knee isn’t 100 percent and likely won’t be until some rest in the off-season. Until then, he will manage the discomfort with daily treatment and exercises.

“I don’t think anyone is 100 percent this time of the year,” Scheppers said. “It’s something I’m learning to work through. I think it’s just like anything else when you get banged up throughout the year. It just needs time.”

Scheppers was active at Triple A Round Rock, pitching as recently as Thursday. He was added to the Rangers’ roster as another right-handed power arm to use while Keone Kela is nursing elbow soreness.

Kela is expected to rejoin the Rangers on Monday in Seattle after spending the weekend in Arlington to receive treatment.

Gallardo the navigator

Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will start the opener of a four-game series at Safeco Field, and manager Jeff Banister expects that the Fort Worth native will do what he’s done all season.

Gallardo has weaved his way around opposing lineups, piling up pitches, yes, but also limiting damage against him. He is 8-3 with a 2.81 ERA in his past 19 starts, but is averaging less than six innings per outing.

“At preventing runs, for stretches he’s been as good as anyone in the league,” Banister said. “He’s well aware of what the score is and how to keep his team in the game.”

Gallardo has allowed two runs or fewer 15 times this season.

DeShields sits

Center fielder Delino DeShields was out of the starting lineup after 50 consecutive starts as the leadoff hitter to nurse some lingering soreness after a checked swing Saturday. The Rangers don’t believe DeShields will miss any significant time.

Drew Stubbs was the fill-in, and he walked to open the game.

This story was originally published September 6, 2015 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Holland, Rangers met with Charlie Sheen late Saturday."