OAKLAND, Calif. - The Rangers are quickly gaining a reputation around the league as adept sign stealers. It is not a crime with which manager Chris Woodward has any concern being connected.

Over the weekend, Houston manager A.J. Hinch suggested the Rangers had picked up pitches from Gerrit Cole during a Saturday thrashing. It was the second time Cole had faced the Rangers in the first four weeks of the season. If there were trends or signs to pick up, facing him twice in a short period of time would only increase that possibility.

Woodward came from the Los Angeles organization, which was considered one of the most advanced when it came to identifying pitch tipping and sign stealing.

"I think we're getting better at it, I want us to," Woodward said Monday.

It is an acquired art. In the past, some hitters have expressed hesitancy to dive into it because they feel studying a pitcher's glove or hand placement before the pitch can take focus off recognizing the pitch out of the hand. Or looking at second base to get a sign relayed from a runner can be distracting.

Woodward likens the art to being at a blackjack table.

"You know what you are holding," Woodward said. "Now, if you had a chance to know what both cards the dealer has are, wouldn't that increase your chances of success? And if you knew the dealer had with those two cards before you even placed your bet, wouldn't that increase your wager?"

Woodward said the Rangers have added several staff members and players who bring a lot in the area of identifying in-game trends. Against the Astros, the Rangers put up nine runs or more on Cole and Collin McHugh in back-to-back games. If the Rangers were able to turn the trick on the Astros, it ups the gamesmanship in the rivalry. The Astros have been considered the league's best at the art for several years.

"I felt like they were on a lot of stuff in the first inning, especially their takes and some of their pitches they chose to swing at," Cole said. "I think they were maybe a little bit of a step ahead of me in terms of maybe being able to identify what pitch I was throwing."

Lighten up: On the tipping pitches front, the Rangers aren't as concerned that Jose Leclerc is giving something away as they are that he may be trying to live up to perceived expectations that come along with signing a long-term contract extension.

Leclerc signed a four-year deal with the Rangers this spring. He has struggled badly in the closer's role for the last two weeks. It all came about after a six-day layoff that may have given him time to reflect on the contract he received during a whirlwind spring training. Since then, Leclerc has struggled badly with his fastball command, throwing it for strikes only 57 percent of the time. He threw it for strikes 64 percent of the time in 2018. The problem has not been with velocity. He's averaging 96.6 mph with the pitch, an increase of more than two miles per hour over his April 2018 average. He may simply be trying to pack too much into the fastball.

"He doesn't want to let anybody down," Woodward said. "He wants to prove that he's the guy. Getting clouded by expectations can make your head spin. Once you can control the emotions there, it's a pretty easy mechanical fix."

Briefly: The Rangers are hopeful that 2B Rougned Odor (knee) could be ready to rejoin the team sometime during the four-game series at Seattle that starts Thursday. Odor is likely to play on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Nashville Wednesday and Thursday. ... 1B Ronald Guzman (hamstring) is likely to also begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Nashville, but would likely stay through the weekend.... RHP Tyler Phillips was named the Class A Carolina League Pitcher of the Week. Phillips pitched seven shutout innings in his only start of the week for Down East. Phillips has not allowed an earned run in 19 innings this season. ... RHP Cole Uvila, the Rangers' final pick (40th round) in the 2018 draft got his first win at advanced Class A on Sunday pitching for Down East. Uvila has not allowed an earned run in nine innings this season between Class A Hickory and Down East. He has allowed just four baserunners (three hits and a walk). Though a bit old for Class A, Uvila, 25, has 63 strikeouts in just 40.2 innings as a pro, an average of 13.94 per nine innings. ... The Rangers' Thursday game has been moved from KRLD's FM to AM (1080) signal to accommodate first-day coverage of the NFL draft.

Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant