Detroit @ Texas preview
Choctaw Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2010 ) Texas 1, Detroit 4
The Texas Rangers have to be feeling a lot better about themselves lately and look to take another step toward a long-awaited AL West crown when they open a two-game series with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.
Texas has won five consecutive games and lowered its magic number to 12 for clinching the division. The Rangers had lost five straight before salvaging the final two contests of a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays and then sweeping a three-game set from the New York Yankees.
The sweep of New York was big for Texas as it showed it could play with the defending World Series champion. In addition, it gave the Rangers some momentum heading down the stretch and into a possible playoff matchup with the Yankees.
Texas also received a solid performance out of Cliff Lee, who had been struggling since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners.
Lee had an ERA of 9.00 in his four previous outings, but allowed just one run and two hits in eight innings against the Yankees in his first start since receiving an injection in his bothersome back.
The Rangers are hoping to see some good things from Derek Holland on Tuesday. Holland (3-3, 4.31 ERA) won for the first time since mid-May as he allowed three hits in five scoreless innings against Toronto in an 8-1 victory on Wednesday.
Holland will be making his first career start against the Detroit Tigers and looks to remain perfect at home. Holland has made four appearances in Texas, including three starts, and is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.45.
Detroit counters with Jeremy Bonderman (8-9, 5.03 ERA), who has won his last two decisions. In his last start, Bonderman threw a season-high 114 pitches and struck out eight with just one walk in an 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Bonderman has made eight career starts against the Rangers and has a record of 2-1 with a 5.32 ERA. In his last start against Texas on July 19, Bonderman allowed five runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings but did not factor in the decision of a 8-6 victory by the Rangers.
Left to play the spoiler now as they have dropped too far behind the Minnesota Twins and White Sox in the AL Central, Detroit (72-72) is coming off a series loss to the Baltimore Orioles.