ARLINGTON, Texas — Fresh off a convincing series win in Miami, the Texas Rangers return home to start a six-game homestand that sees them take on the Detroit Tigers for the second and final time in 2024.
The Rangers finally racked up double-digit hits in back-to-back games after 17 games without a cohesive offense. Perhaps more encouraging for the Rangers is the news that some of their pitchers are starting to inch their way closer to returning to the Major League roster.
Max Scherzer threw a bullpen after being shut down for nearly two weeks. Scherzer, Jon Gray and Tyler Mahle are supposed to face live batters this week, meaning that, if everything goes well, their return could be right around or right after the All-Star Break. But for now, the focus is on righting the ship in June.
Detroit Tigers (29-30, 4th Place AL Central, 10.0 GB) @ Texas Rangers (29-30, 2nd Place AL West, 4.0 GB)
When last we saw Detroit…
The Rangers’ previous series against the Tigers happened at Comerica Park in Detroit back in mid-April. That was a four-game set that included three hard-fought victories for Texas, including a shutout and two dramatic, late-inning happenings. The series in Detroit was when Michael Lorenzen made his season debut for the Rangers, shutting out the Tigers over five innings. Jack Leiter also made his MLB debut in the finale of that series and was the lone loser in the set for Texas.
Since then, the Tigers have dropped from 3rd to 4th place in a competitive AL Central. They’re coming off a difficult May that saw them play to an 11-16 record during the month, including a particularly devastating three-game sweep to the 2nd-place Kansas City Royals. Most recently, Detroit split a four-game series with the Boston Red Sox to hold the same 29-30 record as Texas. The finale of that game saw the Tigers win in extras against Boston, thanks to a game-winning double by former Ranger Andy Ibañez.
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The Tigers aren’t playing bad ball, despite falling to 4th place in the division. That is more a testament to how well the top of the AL Central has played thus far. After all, with the same record, the Rangers are in second in the AL West and only four games out of first place.
The pitching for Detroit as a whole is 6th in the AL, their offense is at about league-average, and they’re actually playing above .500 against the division. But their bullpen has converted just 14 of 26 save opportunities, including 11 blown saves. They’re near the bottom of the league in holds and the relievers as a unit are at a 4.20 ERA, compared to a solid 3.70 for the starters
All of that leads to a record that’s equivalent to the Rangers – but the Tigers haven’t faced nearly the number of injuries that Texas has succumbed to.
What to watch for
Game 63, 7:05 PM CT - LHP Tarik Skubal (7-1, 2.01 ERA) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 2.84 ERA)
Game 64, 7:05 PM CT - RHP Jack Flaherty (2-4, 3.46 ERA) vs. TBD
Game 65, 7:05 PM CT - RHP Kenta Maeda (2-2, 6.25 ERA) vs. TBD
The Tigers, in winning a close series finale in Boston, had to use four relievers, as starter Casey Mize could only give the team four innings. Tyler Holton, Alex Faedo, and Andrew Chafin all had to go more than one inning of work. Not that the bullpen would be particularly exhausted after such an effort, but Faedo and Holton are likely unavailable for Monday’s opener.
Texas has not established its rotation past Nathan Eovaldi as of yet. Eovaldi will be making his second start since returning from the injured list. His reinsertion into the rotation was a particularly short outing against the Diamondbacks, as he only went three innings on 37 pitches, giving up two runs on five hits.
Eovaldi had not had a rehab start before returning to the roster, but, as we saw in the stretch run last year, the leash should be progressively longer for Eovaldi each time out.
Past that, if Texas stays in rotation, Dane Dunning would get the nod for Tuesday night’s game, and Jose Ureña would finish it out. By the time Wednesday rolls around, however, Jon Gray could be ready to make his return to the Major League roster. After a groin strain put him on the IL on May 21, Gray will face live hitters before the opener in Arlington. If all goes well there, he could return on Wednesday; alternatively, he could be tasked with opening the series against San Francisco on Friday.
Pitcher Gerson Garabito, who made his Major League debut against the Twins last Sunday, pitched an inning of relief in Saturday’s game against Miami. Theoretically, if Gray is selected to go Friday, Garabito could give the Rangers a couple of innings to start the finale against Detroit.
Detroit is throwing its heavy hitters against Texas, starting with ace Tarik Skubal and following with Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda. Skubal had a stellar outing against the Pirates in his last time out, pitching seven shutout innings and allowing just three hits while striking out eight.
Skubal has arguably been the American League’s top starter so far this season and was a problem for Texas in Detroit as well, scattering five hits over 6 ⅓ innings and allowing just two earned runs (Detroit errors helped another two to cross) in a close Rangers win.
Flaherty is coming off of a very strong May, posting a 2.84 ERA, including a scoreless outing against the Red Sox in his last outing. The righty lasted 6 ⅔ innings, struck out nine Red Sox hitters and allowed just one hit. The Rangers did not face Flaherty in the series in April. He last faced Texas during Game 2 of the 2023 ALDS when he was a member of the Baltimore Orioles.
Maeda will be making his third start since coming off the IL with an illness. In Boston, his struggles at Fenway continued as the righty allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks across 4 ⅔ innings. Maeda’s last time against the Rangers didn’t go as planned either, as he gave up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks in 2 ⅔ innings. The Rangers blasted three homers in that game.
Both teams are looking to continue momentum in this series, while trying to escape the mediocrity of a .500 record. Texas’ offense was just getting going in Miami, and they’ll look to keep up the production, but weathering the storm produced by top starters Skubal and Flaherty is going to be a difficult task.
Do you think the Rangers will start their homestand off with a series win against the Tigers? Share your predictions with Matt on X (formerly Twitter) @FisherWritesMLB.