Not a lot has changed in a year.
The Texas Rangers pounded the Detroit Tigers again with 19 hits and 10 runs in a 10-3 rout of Detroit Thursday night, and look to do it again as the series continues on Friday.
Mike Napoli gave bettors a huge MLB Player Props payout when he homered for the fourth-straight game, while Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz each had three hits. A similar storyline to last year’s ALCS when Cruz easily led the Rangers past the Tigers.
Texas is now 6-0 on the road and lead the league in runs and ERA – no wonder they have baseball’s best record. It has scored 53 runs in its last seven, with a .345 batting average. On the year, the line isn’t much different: .306, 23 home runs and 79 runs.
Its not just one-sided either. Texas’ starters are 9-0 for the first time in team history and lead the majors with a 2.38 ERA.
“We know that’s a very good team – our people in Arizona said they were the best team they saw this spring,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland told the Associated Press. “But they are in our league, so we have to play them.”
They’re probably getting sick of it by now. Detroit was hailed as a superpower offensive team after signing Prince Fielder to a massive contract. But it doesn’t look like much has changed since the ALCS.
Fielder had just one hit last night, but scored twice.
Matt Harrison takes the mound for Texas, and brings his league-leading 0.64 ERA. He only allowed one run over eight innings last weekend against the Minnesota Twins. In his last start against the Tigers, in Game Four of the ALCS, the lefty allowed two runs over five innings in a 7-3 extra innings win.
One bright spot for the Tigers is Miguel Cabrera’s recent history against Harrison, batting .400 in 15 career meetings.
Rick Porcello was his opponent in that game, and will get the ball for Detroit. He went 7 2/3s against the Chicago White Sox in a 5-2 win last Sunday.
“He’s throwing the ball real well,” Leyland told his team’s website. “He’s got good life, and he’s throwing the ball better.”
Bovada is favoring the Tigers by 1 1/2 runs, with a -107 moneyline.