Texas @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2018 ) Texas 7, Detroit 5

The Texas Rangers opened their longest road trip of the season in winning fashion and will try to make it two in a row when they continue a four-game set at the Detroit Tigers on Friday. Joey Gallo and Ronald Guzman slugged two-run homers as the Rangers scored the game's first seven runs en route to a 7-5 win in Thursday's series opener and the first of 10 games on the road.

Texas has won 17 of the last 22 meetings between the teams and can clinch the season series for the fourth straight year with one victory in the final three matchups this weekend. The Tigers outhit the Rangers 12-8 on Thursday but still fell for the third straight time, sinking into third place in the American League Central at 12 games behind first-place Cleveland. Bartolo Colon seeks another milestone as he makes the start for the Rangers on Friday night opposite fellow right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. Colon picked up career win No. 245 his last time out, tying him with Dennis Martinez for the most victories by a Latin American-born player.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Bartolo Colon (5-5, 4.76 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (3-0, 3.91)

Colon matched Martinez's mark by allowing three runs over five innings in a victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. He has given up one home run over his last three turns after serving up 10 over his previous five outings. The 45-year-old has a 5.50 ERA in 13 career starts at Comerica Park.

Zimmermann gave up one run over 12 combined innings in his last two starts, striking out nine and walking just one. He is unscored upon in three of his last five starts, including two in a row at home. The two-time All-Star has just one prior matchup with the Rangers in 2016, when he took the loss despite giving up three runs in eight innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire, who left Wednesday's game at Wrigley Field due to heat exhaustion, stayed in the clubhouse while bench coach Steve Liddle managed the series opener.

2. Rangers RHP Chris Martin (groin) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and RHP Ricardo Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.

3. Texas is 13-5 in Detroit since the start of 2013.

PREDICTION: Tigers 5, Rangers 3