GDT: 7/19/10 - DET (48-42) VS TEX (53-39) - 7:05 p.m. ET
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Detroit Tigers VS Texas RangersMonday, July 19, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT
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Tigers in need of a rebound against RangersBy Bailey Stephens / MLB.com
You can't blame the Tigers if they are happy to be headed home.
After getting swept in a four-game set at Cleveland over the weekend, Detroit will need a steadying effort as it begins a three-game set with the Rangers on Monday.
The Tigers' road woes have grown into a full-sized problem, as they have lost 10 of their past 13 road games.
"We're a better team than we've showed," left fielder Brennan Boesch said. "I don't know what it is with us lately. I can't put my finger on it."
But with their road struggles on the back burner with the return to Comerica Park, the Tigers hope to rebound against a tough Rangers team. Job one for Detroit will be awakening its bats, which struggled throughout the series in Cleveland.
"We're fine," Tigers catcher Gerald Laird said. "It's disappointing, but we have to bring our 'A' game everywhere. We're right there at the top of our division with a couple other teams. We have to be prepared to play anybody, whether it's a first-place team or a last-place team. We're only a couple games out, so we need to catch our stride and get our groove back."
The Tigers will have to get it done at the plate against Texas hurler Scott Feldman. The right-hander endured some struggles in the first half of the season, going 5-8 before the All-Star break. But he did end things on a strong note, allowing just two earned runs in seven innings against the Orioles his previous time out. His manager, Ron Washington, had praise after an outing which saw Feldman avoid any free passes.
"He was great, he really was," Washington said. "He had his sinker working, he used his off-speed pitches very well. ... Kept them off balance ... too bad we just couldn't hold on to the game for him."
Feldman will be trying to replicate those results on Monday, en route to a more consistent second half. Even with Cliff Lee, the Rangers will need Feldman to string together some solid outings to keep them at the head of the pack in the American League West down the stretch.
Rangers: Davis learning on the jobYoung first baseman Chris Davis has been a platoon candidate so far during his most recent ascent to the Rangers, but Washington wants to keep him in the lineup against some left-handers, as he chose to do on Sunday against Jon Lester. Texas is reportedly seeking a right-handed first baseman that could platoon with the left-handed hitting Davis, but for now, his manager is open to keeping him in the lineup in some of these situations because of his work with the glove. "Chris going to have to figure it out," Washington said. "I want his defense in there. I don't think too many people in this league have put much offense up against Lester, so I want [Davis'] defense."
Tigers: Bonderman making adjustmentsLeading the Tigers' turnaround attempt Monday will be Jeremy Bonderman, who like Feldman has had an up and down year. Bonderman did pick up a win in his final start of the first half against the Twins, picking up a quality start along the way. He was pleased with his success, which came mostly with his ability to keep his fastball down and in and use his offspeed pitches to his advantage.
"I was just trying to pitch in more and throw my breaking ball at different speeds," Bonderman said. "It's not the breaking ball it used to be. I'm trying to use it and make sure I locate it, and try to throw some harder and some slower and keep it out of the middle of the plate."
Worth notingTexas has actually been playing a strong brand of baseball on the road, winning 14 of its past 19 away from home.
... The Rangers have lost 11 straight games in Detroit dating back to Sept. 2007, a club record for consecutive road losses to a particular team.
... Tigers hurler Armando Galarraga is expected to be recalled in time for Tuesday's start.
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Pitching matchup 
TIGERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (5-6, 4.79 ERA)Bonderman worked six innings of three-run ball in the Tigers' 7-4 victory against the Twins on July 10, his first quality start since June 17. The 27-year-old right-hander is 3-3 with a 3.63 ERA in nine appearances at Comerica Park this season.
RANGERS: RHP Scott Feldman (5-8, 5.32 ERA) In his last start against the Orioles, Feldman earned the no-decision after a late O's rally. He pitched seven innings while giving up two runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. It was just the third time in his last 11 starts that he pitched into the sixth inning.
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From MLB Tigers Game NotesRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 7-2 loss to the Indians yesterday afternoon at Progressive Field, the club’s fifth straight loss. Andy Oliver (0-4) took the loss for Detroit after allowing five runs in 3.2 innings of work. Magglio Ordonez finished with a double and an RBI, while Miguel Cabrera added an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Detroit begins a seven-game homestand with the first game of a three-game series versus Texas this evening. The homestand concludes with a four-game series against Toronto beginning on Thursday afternoon.
WINNING WAYS AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers enter tonight’s game versus the Rangers having won 17 of the club’s last 20 games at home dating back to June 2. For the season, Detroit has compiled a 32-13 record at Comerica Park and is tops among all American League clubs with a .711 winning percentage at home in 2010.
ELEVEN STRAIGHT AT HOME OVER TEXAS: The Tigers have won each of the club’s last 11 games at home over the Texas Rangers, dating back to September 11, 2007. The 11-game winning streak over Texas at home establishes the longest such streak in Tigers history. Detroit previously had won nine straight over the Rangers at Tiger Stadium September 1, 1983-May 14, 1985.
WINNING OVER THE WEST: The Tigers have compiled a 35-26 record against clubs from the American League’s West Division since the start of the 2009 season. Detroit’s .574 winning percentage against the American League’s West Division is second-best among league clubs since the start of the 2009 season. The Yankees have compiled a 38-22 record, a .633 winning percentage, versus the American League’s West Division.
MIGGY AT HIS BEST AGAINST THE WEST: Miguel Cabrera enters this evening’s game versus the Rangers batting .355 (145x408) with 78 runs scored, 36 doubles, a triple, 25 home runs and 102 RBI in 106 games against clubs from the American League’s West Division during his career. He is tops among all active major league players with a .355 batting average and .635 slugging percentage versus the American League’s West Division.
ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE VERSUS THE RANGERS: Magglio Ordonez enters tonight’s game versus Texas hitting .348 (116x333) with 62 runs scored, 24 doubles, 16 home runs and 67 RBI in 90 games during his career against the club. He is second among all active major league players with a .348 batting average against Texas, while he is ninth with a .565 slugging percentage and 10th with a .411 on-base percentage.
BOESCH ON THE LEADER BOARDS: Brennan Boesch reached the required number of plate appearances to join the league leaders on July 11 versus the Twins. He enters tonight’s game versus Texas fifth in the American League with a .329 batting average and .566 slugging percentage while he is 10th with a .387 on-base percentage.
PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has converted each of his last 19 save opportunities for the Tigers, tied for the seventh-longest such single-season streak in franchise history. Additionally, he has held opponents scoreless in 36 of his 40 outings this season. Valverde is second among all American League relievers with a .136 batting average against, while he is third with a 1.13 ERA and 10th with 19 saves.
INGE CLOSING IN ON HIGGINS ON ALL-TIME LIST: Brandon Inge enters tonight’s game versus Texas with 841 games played at third base during his Tigers career, one game shy of tying Mike Higgins for fourth place in franchise history with 842 games played at third base.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled an 18-9 record and 3.42 ERA (274.0IP/104ER) through the club’s first 90 games this season. Tigers relievers are second in the American League with 18 victories, while the club is fourth with a 3.42 ERA.
AVILA SLOWS THE RUNNING GAME: Alex Avila enters tonight’s game versus Texas having thrown out 38.7 percent of baserunners attempting to steal (12x31) this season, tops among all American League catchers.
LOOKING AT THE ROOKIE LEADERS: Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch have both enjoyed success during their rookie campaigns. Jackson is tops among all American League rookies with 54 runs scored and 99 hits, while he is second with a .304 batting average. Boesch is tops among all league rookies with a .329 batting average, 12 home runs and 50 RBI, while he is second with 85 hits.
GETTING AN ASSIST FROM THE OUTFIELD: Brennan Boesch threw out Cleveland’s Trevor Crowe at second base in Saturday afternoon’s game at Progressive Field, marking the club’s 18th outfield assist this season. The Tigers are tied for second among all American League clubs with 18 outfield assists in 2010. Magglio Ordonez is tied for the lead among all league outfielders with seven outfield assists this season.
INJURY UPDATE: RHP Zach Miner(right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26),
RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29).
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Tuesday, July 20TIGERS (RHP
Armando Galarraga (3-2, 4.45 ERA))
VS RANGERS (RHP
Tommy Hunter (6-0, 2.39 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Wednessday, July 21TIGERS (RHP
Max Scherzer (6-7, 4.74 ERA))
VS RANGERS (RHP
Colby Lewis (9-5, 3.42 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)• Thursday, July 22TIGERS (RHP
Justin Verlander (11-5, 3.86 ERA))
VS Blue Jays (LHP
Ricky Romero (7-6, 3.50 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)
Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:09 pm
out swinging, catcher Alex Avila to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.