Detroit @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( May 18, 2013 ) Detroit 2, Texas 7

The Texas Rangers routinely feature one of the more productive offenses in the major leagues, but few could have predicted the manner in which they have treated the Detroit Tigers' top two pitchers. Ace Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez each failed to get through three innings against Texas, putting the onus on right-hander Doug Fister to try and salvage a split of the four-game set in the series finale Sunday night at Rangers Ballpark.

Texas has scored 18 runs in taking two of three from the Tigers and has put up 59 runs while going 8-2 in its last 10 games. Rangers leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler has missed the last two games due to bruised ribs, but Elvis Andrus took his spot at the top of the order and delivered his first career five-hit performance in Saturday's 7-2 victory. Lance Berkman has recorded consecutive two-hit efforts to improve to 17-for-46 lifetime against Detroit.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (5-1, 3.06 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (3-2, 2.93)

Fister bounced back from his worst start by going seven strong innings and holding Houston to two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and zero walks. He had lasted only three innings against the Washington Nationals in his previous outing as he was knocked around for five runs and eight hits. Fister has had his struggles against the Rangers, logging a 2-4 record and 5.61 ERA in seven career starts. Texas pummeled him for eight runs in 4 1/3 innings last year.

Holland is coming off a shaky effort at Oakland in which he permitted four runs and eight hits in a season low-tying 5 2/3 innings. He had given up one run while striking out 15 and walking one in his previous two starts against Milwaukee and Boston. Holland has pitched at least seven innings in six of his eight outings and curbed his propensity for serving up the long ball, surrendering only two in 55 1/3 frames after yielding 32 a year ago. He has a 1.54 ERA in two career starts vs. Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers OF David Murphy is 8-for-18 with four home runs against Fister. Nelson Cruz (7-for-16) and Adrian Beltre (6-for-14) also have hit him hard.

2. Tigers RF Torii Hunter is 10-for-34 with a pair of homers against Holland, who has held Miguel Cabrera hitless in five at-bats.

3. Texas 1B Mitch Moreland hit his 10th homer Saturday, putting him within six of his career high.

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Tigers 2