as a rookie, the trio has worked to make sure the kick is headed toward

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt Garza is set to start pitching for a playoff contender again, this time with a team that has long coveted him. Garza will make his Texas Rangers debut Wednesday night against the New York Yankees. "Hes excited, big smile on his face. I think I sat here with just as a big a smile as he did," manager Ron Washington said Tuesday. "Hes ready to go, man. I wouldnt expect anything less. " The Rangers acquired Garza on Monday from the Chicago Cubs. Texas immediately traded three players to the Cubs, including major league pitcher Justin Grimm and top prospect third baseman Mike Olt, in a deal with one or two players to be named later. Garza was 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA in his last six starts for the Cubs. Scratched from his scheduled start Monday night at Arizona, he last pitched July 13 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field. "Hes a power pitcher. He will upgrade any rotation in the big leagues," said Rangers backup catcher Geovany Soto, his former teammate in Chicago. "Its great to have him here." Garza didnt talk to reporters at Rangers Ballpark on Tuesday. The Rangers said Garza, whose locker is right next to Soto, was sticking to his own policy of not doing interviews the day before pitching. "Hes happy that everythings done, he knows where hes at now, and hes going to be here for 2013 and hopefully go into October," Soto said. "Hes going to prepare, hes going to give you 100 per cent. Guaranteed." Texas optioned right-hander Cory Burns and lefty Joseph Ortiz to Triple-A Round Rock to clear spots on the 25-man active roster for Garza and right-hander Alexi Ogando, who was activated from the disabled list to start Tuesday night against the Yankees. Derek Holland (8-5), the only pitcher from the Rangers season-opening rotation who hasnt been on the DL this season, was initially scheduled to pitch Wednesday night against his idol, Andy Pettitte. He will instead pitch the four-game series finale Thursday, a day game when the temperature is expected to be 100 degrees or more. Washington said the Rangers didnt want Garza to sit much longer after not pitching Monday night. "Plus, we want to get him a chance to feel what this heat is like, rather than him first game out hes going in a day game," Washington said. "Derek has done it before, so we send Derek out there." Holland said its huge to add Garza, who pitched in the 2008 World Series for Tampa Bay and in the 2010 AL division series for the Rays against Texas. Garza (6-1, 3.17 ERA) can become a free agent after this season. He made 11 starts for the Cubs and missing the first seven weeks this season with a strained left lat muscle. Asked about interest in signing Garza beyond this season, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels responded, "Lets let him get here, get settled and hopefully we have a good mutual experience together the next three months, and then well re-visit." Tampa Bay traded Garza to Chicago instead of Texas after the 2010 season. The Rangers were also interested in Garza last summer before he missed the last two months with a stress reaction in his right elbow. Garza has a 63-62 career record in 181 major league games (178 starts) with Minnesota (2006-07), Tampa Bay (2008-10) and the Cubs (2011-13). He was a first-round draft pick by the Twins in the 2005 amateur draft. The last time Garza pitched against the Yankees was in September 2010, and he has a 1-4 record with a 4.48 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) against them. "Its been a few years, but weve seen a lot of him, and hes a pitcher thats had success pretty much anywhere hes been," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "Hes got very good stuff, he seems pretty durable, hes pitched in the American League, which is not the easiest place to pitch. Hes pitched in pennant races, so you would expect it to be a good acquisition for the Rangers." 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Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Justin Tucker has a knack for putting the exclamation point on drives that come up short of the goal line.Tucker has kicked nine field goals this season for the Baltimore Ravens, who are unbeaten after three games primarily because of his unfailing accuracy -- especially with the outcome hanging in the balance.Since landing a four-year, $6.8 million contract during the offseason, Tucker has scored in a big way for Baltimore. He hasnt missed a kick and accounted for all 12 of the teams fourth-quarter points, including a game-winning, 53-yard field goal last Sunday in a 19-17 win at Jacksonville.The kick -- changed officially from 54 yards by the NFL on Wednesday -- concluded a desperate drive by Joe Flacco that fizzled at the Jaguars 35.When games come down to the final possession, Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs said, you want a quarterback with ice in his veins, and you (darn) sure want a kicker with ice in his veins as well.Although the Ravens have thus far reached the end zone only four times, Tucker has rescued the offense by scoring 31 of the teams 57 points.I dont think of it as any added pressure, Tucker said Wednesday. If the game dictates that we need to kick four field goals, then wed better make four field goals. If the game dictates that I just need to make a few PATs while were beating up somebody, thats exactly what I will do. I just need to make kicks, regardless of the situation.The opposition has taken notice. The Ravens face Oakland (2-1) on Sunday, and Raiders coach Jack Del Rio knows Tucker rarely misfires in the first quarter or the last.Hes been phenomenal, Del Rio said. Tucker is second all-time in terms of field goal kicks, and theyre not all short ones. Hes pretty amazing.Indeed, Tucker ranks second behind Dallas Dan Bailey in career field percentage. Bailey is at 90.4 percent, and Tucker is moving up the chart at 88.5 percent.Tucker made the Pro Bowl in 2013 annd has won 12 games with field goals, most notably three years ago when he beat Detroit with a career-best 61-yarder.ddddddddddddThats why the Ravens slapped the franchise tag on him during the offseason before handing him a $6 million signing bonus in July to go with his four-year deal.Justin has become a cornerstone for our team, general manager Ozzie Newsome said at the time.Instead of pressing to prove his worth, Tucker merely went back to work.My approach to how I kick a ball is unaffected by what happens on the business side of football, he said. If I looked at it any other way, Id be doing a disservice to everybody in here.Tuckers job is made easier by his familiarity with long snapper Morgan Cox and holder Sam Koch. Since 2012, when Tucker arrived as a rookie, the trio has worked to make sure the kick is headed toward the goalposts in 1.3 seconds.Its imperative to have a consistent operation, Tucker said. Its definitely a big part of the reason why Im able to be confident kicking the ball.Koch believes Tuckers success can be attributed to hard work in practice and the ability to stay loose under pressure.As a kicker, you have to be able to get over your last kick -- whether its bad or good -- and be able to move on, Koch said. He has the character that allows him to do that. He has fun at it.While playing high school ball in Texas, Tucker performed on both sides of the ball, kicked field goals and punted. During that time, the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder realized his best hope of becoming a pro was as a placekicker.I looked up to Adam Vinatieri, Matt Stover, Phil Dawson, Robbie Gould, Tucker said. Now that Im playing in the same league as these guys, I still have to pinch myself every day. Its a dream come true.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '