Alexei Romping as No. 2 Hitter, Rangers Preview

Alexei Ramirez has earned American League Player of the Week honors for the week ending May 22.

He hit .417 (10-24) with six doubles, one home run, nine RBI and six runs scored, including a four-hit, five-RBI game Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has five extra-base hits in his last two games.

The White Sox are going to need more than his hot bat as they open a three-game set on the road against the Texas Rangers. Adam Dunn singled in his final at-bat Sunday in addition to drawing three walks. Maybe, just maybe…he’s headed for a hot streak. Juan Pierre has looked better at the plate as the weather starts to warm, and even Gordon Beckham has hits the last three days.

John Danks looks for his first win of the year against the team that drafted him. He earned a no-decision against the Rangers in his last start, May 17. He allowed four hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings, but walked a career-high six batters and it was one of his worst outings of the year.

Things will fall into place for him eventually – a Rangers lineup that gets back Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz might not be the best place to start, but you never know. We saw Rafael Furcal really struggle at the plate Sunday in his first game back from the DL. Edwin Jackson’s slider was really biting, but coming back from injury doesn’t always garner instant success (see: Dunn, Cory Hart), so maybe Danks will be able to take advantage.

The Rangers were also offensively challenged against the Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff, so this could be an advantage to Danks.

But again, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Adrian Beltre are the fellas hitting around Hamilton and Cruz, so Danks needs to throw quality pitches to get these guys out.