Nelson Cruz is off to a cold start this year, but a date with the Detroit Tigers might just be the remedy. The right fielder torched the Tigers last year in the ALCS, hitting a whopping six home runs and 13 RBI – a record for the championship series.

The Rangers are hoping for a renaissance this week as they open a four-game set against Detroit on Thursday.

Cruz is hitting just over .200 with two home runs to start the year, but Texas has rolled to a 10-2 record and sits atop the AL West. A lot of that has to do with Josh Hamilton, who is 11 for his last 18 with three homers and nine RBI in his last four games.

Bovada’s MLB Player Props page has a -300 payout if he continues his streak and records a hit tonight.

Third baseman Michael Young has been even hotter, hitting .520 with two homers during a six-game hit streak. After missing Wednesday night’s series finale with Boston, Young will likely be back in the lineup Thursday.

“We know we’ve got a team,” Mike Napoli told the Associated Press. “We’ve got some good starters that can throw strikes and keep us in games.’

The Rangers are favored by 1 1/2 runs, according to Bovada with a -123 moneyline.

But there isn’t a better team to bop bats with Texas than Detroit. After signing Prince Fielder in the offseason, the Tigers are off to a 9-3 start. Fielder is hitting .356 with eight RBI to start the year, and five of his seven career hits off Texas have been homers.

If Prince Fielder hits a homer, Bovada will pay out +325.

He will have to do it against Texas’ new toy Yu Darvish. Opponents have a .450 on-base percentage against the Japanese righty, but he showed some promise against Minnesota last week, getting out of bases loaded jams with strikeouts.

“That’s what good pitchers do,” manager Ron Washington said. “Still have to work on getting ahead of hitters quicker. But he was much better today with his command.”