The Texas Rangers will close out their three-game set against the visiting Detroit Tigers, with their fourth win of their current 10-game home stand on Wednesday at Arlington Ballpark.
Detroit on the other hand, will try get back to .500, while the Rangers aim to maintain their cushion over second place Los Angeles in the race for the AL West.
DET: Doug Fister (1-4, 2.72 ERA) vs. TEX: Roy Oswalt (1-0, 1.35 ERA)
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 27, – 8:05 PM EST
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Broadcast: FOX Sports (Detroit), FOX Sports Southwest (Texas)
LINE: OFF
TOTAL: OFF
The Tigers jumped out to a big lead before Rick Porcello even threw a pitch, in Game 1 on Monday. Beating up on the Rangers to the final score of 8-2. It was Detroit’s 10th win in 15 games.
Texas were nearly shut out in that one, until Josh Hamilton, who went 3 for 3, ended an 11-game homerless drought with a two-run shot in the seventh.
Hamilton, who leads the majors with 67 RBIs – was hoping coming into Game 2 of the series that his long ball may have sparked some sort of plate resurgence. And it did, as Hamilton belted his 24th homer run of the season while finishing 2-for-4 in the Rangers’ 7-5 win on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 with three RBIs Monday, raising his career regular-season average against Texas to .378 – the highest among active players. He followed that up on Tuesday however, with a disappointing 0-for-3 finish.
For the rubber match, the Tigers will send Doug Fister to the hill.
The 28-year old righty was pegged with his fourth loss in eight starts of the season during Friday night’s series opener against the Pirates. He will now look to get himself back in the win column against a hard-hitting Rangers lineup.
Fister is 0-2 with a 3.24 ERA in five road starts this season and has racked up 16 strikeouts over those outings
Texas will counter with veteran Roy Oswalt who wasn’t at his best but was able to earn the victory in a one-run and nine hits 4-1 win over Colorado on Friday. The 35-year old pitched 6 2-3 innings in his Texas debut, but will be tested when he takes on the Tigers. A much better barometer than an inconsistent Rockies club.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Texas- Although Oswalt has only pitched in one big league game after going 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA in four starts in the minor. He looked good his last time out. If he gets the same run support from a potentially potent Rangers lineup that starter Yu Darvish did in Tuesday’s Game 2. This game is his to lose.
