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Detroit Tigers vs. Texas Rangers
The surging Detroit Tigers and red hot Texas Rangers are set to go to war starting Monday night when both clubs partake in Game 1 of their scheduled three-game set in Arlington to kick off the week’s diamond slate action.
The Tigers went into Sunday’s series finale with the division rival Chicago White Sox in search of the series win in the rubber match after Miguel Cabrera’s 2-run bomb in the top of the 9th inning made a winner out of Justin Verlander who tossed a gem through eight IP to move to 6-3 on the year. The victory allowed Detroit to chop another game off its deficit in the AL Central after Cleveland once again fell to the Rangers. As it is heading into Sunday, the Tigers now only trail the Indians by 3.5-games in the division and their hot on the heels of the Boston Red Sox for the Wild Card.
With the Texas Rangers now almost nursed back to full health, it only makes sense that the reigning AL Champs are once again starting to abuse their opposition. Saturday’s 4-0 shut0out of the Tribe at Progressive Field was manager Ron Washington’s clubs fourth win in a row and 10th in their L/13 overall tries. Because of their current hot streak, the Rangers now possess a 2.5-game lead over the also surging Seattle Mariners in the highly competitive AL West. The ‘Gers are one of only three AL teams that have tallied 19 home wins on the year (19-11 $447).
These teams already met once this season back in the middle of April when Detroit held serve at Comerica Park to win two of three; the total played to the under’ twice and pushed once. The Rangers won four of the six times they hosted this series a year ago, and are 9-4 the L/13 times they hosted this series; the ‘over’ is 6-0-2 the L/8 times these teams went at it in Arlington. Detroit’s won each of Max Scherzer’s L/5 starts vbs. AL West opposition, but it’s also just 6-13 his L/19 road outings. Texas has won Game 1 of a series six of the L/8 times, but is only 1-8 the L/9 times Colby Lewis was the series opening starting pitcher.
PICK: Detroit/Texas OVER
