Tigers at Rangers
The Texas Rangers' bats went silent over the weekend as they dropped three straight to finish a four-game series with the visiting Boston Red Sox. They will try to put a few more runs on the board and shake out of a season-long funk at home when they open a three-game set against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Monday.
After beginning the series with the Red Sox with an 11-5 win, Texas produced a total of seven runs from Friday through Sunday and its lineup recorded 14 strikeouts in a 6-1 loss in the finale. The three straight losses gives the Rangers a 5-15 mark at home, where it has lost its first six series to begin a season for the first time. The Tigers also managed seven total runs over their last three contests and finished a four-game set at Kansas City with a 4-2 setback Sunday afternoon. They are 3-3 in starts made by right-hander Michael Fulmer, who gets the nod in the series opener opposite veteran left-hander Matt Moore for Texas.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (1-2, 2.80 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Matt Moore (1-4, 7.67)
Since giving up nine runs in three innings at the Cleveland Indians on April 12, Fulmer has turned in three straight quality starts while posting an ERA of 1.89. He did not factor in the decision after giving up two runs in six solid innings against the Tampa Bay Rays at home on Wednesday. The former first-round pick is 1-1 with a 3.21 mark in two career starts against the Rangers, both of which took place at Texas.
Moore posted a 3.18 ERA over his final three starts in April - as well as a scoreless inning of relief - but was rocked in his first outing this month. The 28-year-old gave up 10 runs on 11 hits in just four innings against the Indians, serving up three home runs after allowing only one over his first six appearances this season. Moore has not faced the Tigers since June 4, 2013, when he was pounded for six runs in two frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers 3B Jeimer Candelario (thumb) did not play Sunday and RF Nicholas Castellanos (flu-like symptoms) did not start.
2. Rangers rookie 1B Ronald Guzman is 1-for-19 with 12 strikeouts over his last six contests.
3. Detroit C/1B John Hicks is 9-for-20 with a home run and two doubles during a five-game hitting streak.