Detroit @ Texas preview
Globe Life Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 4, 2024 ) Detroit 3, Texas 1
After moving a game over .500, the Detroit Tigers will look to maintain their momentum when they aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.
Zach McKinstry and Riley Greene each homered in Tuesday's 3-1 victory as the Tigers won their third straight game. Detroit has won eight of its past 11 to improve to 31-30.
Greene has hit safely in six straight games and is 9-for-23 (.391) with two homers over that stretch.
The Rangers will be searching for offense after scoring a total of two runs in back-to-back losses while going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Texas was held to five hits in Tuesday's loss.
"The bats were just quiet. Hard to explain why, but they were quiet," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "We really didn't threaten much. We were lucky to get one run, to be honest. It's frustrating. ... It looked like we were coming out (of the slump), and now the last two games, it's been tough sledding for us."
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager drew a walk in the sixth inning to extend his on-base streak to a career-high 27 games. His hitting streak ended at 16 games after going 0-for-3.
The Tigers have quieted the typically loud fans at Globe Life Field with two impressive performances.
"Obviously we have a game (Wednesday), so we're not going to do too much dancing," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "I do like that our guys have come and played well in a very tough environment. The crowd's electric, a lot of people, the defending world champs, and we took it right to them."
Detroit reliever Shelby Miller returned Tuesday after missing three-plus weeks due an inflamed nerve in his right elbow and struck out three over 1 1/3 innings.
"It's good to see him back in there," Hinch said. "It's good to see him let it go and get the swing-and-miss that we've seen before."
The Tigers will send right-hander Kenta Maeda (2-2, 6.25 ERA) to the mound in the series finale. He allowed five runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox last Friday.
Maeda, 36, posted a 6.62 ERA with a 13-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 17 2/3 innings in four starts last month. He missed two weeks with a viral illness.
Adolis Garcia is 3-for-9 with two home runs against Maeda, who is 2-0 with a 4.81 ERA in six career games (five starts) versus Texas.
The Rangers will counter with right-hander Jose Urena (1-5, 3.74), who gave up four runs (two earned) over 2 1/3 innings in an 8-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday.
"Jose was a little off with his command," Bochy said. "He's been throwing the ball well. It was pretty obvious he was missing some spots, got some balls down the middle, some walks."
Javier Baez is 4-for-12 against the 32-year-old Urena, who is 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA in four career games (two starts) versus Detroit.
--Field Level Media