The Rangers (35-36) took Teixeira with the first pick in the 2001 draft, and he played with them from 2003 until July 31, when he was dealt to Atlanta along with reliever Ron Mahay for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four other players. Teixeira, an All-Star in 2005, hit .317 with 17 homers in 54 games for the Braves (35-36) last season and is batting .271 with 10 home runs in 69 games in 2008.

But even without the slugger, the Rangers' offense has hardly missed a beat - leading the majors with 5.6 runs per game.

"I think both sides have moved on," Texas shortstop Michael Young told his team's official Web site. "He was very productive for us, but if you look at what we've done offensively this year, everybody has taken the next step. That's just the nature of the game."

Teixeira was 0-for-5 on Monday in Atlanta's 7-1 win at Colorado in a makeup game from a snowout in April, but was 5-for-13 in a three-game weekend series against the Angels, helping the Braves take two of three.

The Braves have the worst road record in the majors at 10-25, but have won three of four away from home.

Chipper Jones, who hits ahead of Teixeira in Atlanta's lineup, went 2-for-4 on Monday and snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the fifth. Jones, who came into the game in a 2-for-15 slump, raised his major league-leading average one point to .403.

"I didn't think about it one time," Jones said of his batting average. "Once you are immersed in the game, the at-bat at the time is the most important moment of the game."

The Rangers dropped two of three against the New York Mets over the weekend and split a series-ending doubleheader on Sunday. Texas won the first game 8-7 behind four RBIs from Ramon Vazquez before falling 4-2 in the nightcap.

The Rangers could have their work cut out versus the Braves, against whom they are 2-7. Atlanta won each of the three meetings in 2002 and 2003 before dropping two of three in 2005 in Texas.

Texas will also have to deal with Atlanta ace Tim Hudson (7-4, 2.76 ERA) in the series opener.

Hudson is 0-1 over his last four starts despite a 2.22 ERA. He gave up one run in 6 2-3 innings while battling dehydration in the Braves' 11-inning, 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

Hudson is 6-5 with a 4.01 ERA in 16 career starts against the Rangers, but is facing them for the first time since 2005.

The Rangers counter with Vicente Padilla (8-3, 3.89), who gave up five runs in six innings of Wednesday's 11-5 win in Kansas City. The right-hander has won six of his last seven decisions.

Padilla is 5-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 17 career appearances - 16 starts - against the Braves but also hasn't faced them since 2005.