Rangers at Tigers (2nd)
After Friday night’s game was postponed because of rain, the visiting
Rangers and Tigers resume their four-game series with a split
doubleheader Saturday. The Rangers' Neftali Feliz faces the Tigers' Justin Verlander in the second game.
If the Rangers’ starting pitchers can maintain their hot start, the American
League West race could be over by the All-Star break. The Rangers
starters are 9-0 with a 2.37 ERA after Yu Darvish pitched into the
seventh inning Thursday, helping Texas cruise to a 10-3 victory over the
Detroit Tigers in the series opener. Texas has won seven straight and
own the majors’ best record at 11-2.
The Tigers were out-hit 19-5
in the opener, and they’ll likely need to double their output to keep
pace with Texas, which is batting .403 (50-for-124) with eight home runs
over its past three games. Detroit also needs to figure out a way to
slow down Mike Napoli, who is 9-for-18 with five homers and 10 RBIs in
his last four games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, TXA21 (Texas), FS Detroit Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Neftali Feliz (1-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (1-1, 2.13 ERA)
Feliz’s transition to the starting rotation is off to a promising start after giving up a total of three runs in his first two starts. Feliz pitched seven shutout innings against Seattle in his season debut before allowing three runs on five hits in five innings last Sunday against the Twins.
Verlander has picked up where he left off last season, going at least eight innings in each of his three starts. He’s coming off a complete game win against the Royals on Monday, when he allowed two runs with nine strikeouts. Michael Young is 6-for-26 (.231) against Verlander.
WALK-OFFS
1.
Ivan Rodriguez, who is retiring after a 21-year career, will be honored
prior to Monday’s game against the New York Yankees in Arlington.
2. Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera is six RBIs away from becoming the 21st active player with 1,000 or more.
3. The Tigers have won 18 of their last 25 games against the Rangers at Comerica Park.