The Detroit Tigers blew an excellent opportunity to even up their record in their first home series of the season. Perhaps the Kansas City Royals are better than most of us expected, but that's a team the Tigers should at least win a series from, especially at home.
Instead, the Tigers lost two of three and now welcome the team with the best record in all of baseball. The Texas Rangers are 8-1, boosted by a 6-0 home record, looking like they're eager to prove last year's World Series run was no fluke.
In recent seasons, the Rangers have had difficulty winning at Comerica Park, losing 11 in a row at the Tigers' home park from 2007 to 2009. But Texas seems to have overcome that hurdle with a 2-1 record at Detroit last year.
Justin Verlander is on the mound for the Tigers, probably just the guy you want to see against a team like the Rangers. He has a 6-1 record and 2.37 ERA versus Texas in eight career starts, but did not face them last season.
Alexi Ogando starts for the Rangers, making just his second appearance as a starting pitcher after pitching entirely out of the bullpen last season. In his debut start, Ogando held the Mariners to no runs and two hits over six innings. He made three appearances versus the Tigers last year, compiling a 3.86 ERA.
Austin Jackson is getting the day off Jim Leyland said he needed, after getting a somewhat surprising start on Sunday. Don Kelly subs in for him in center field, with Will Rhymes moving up to the leadoff spot. Here are the starting lineups:
Detroit Tigers
1. Will Rhymes, 2B
2. Brennan Boesch, LF
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Don Kelly, CF
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Brandon Inge, 3B
Texas Rangers
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Elvis Andrus, SS
3. Josh Hamilton, LF
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Michael Young, DH
6. Nelson Cruz, RF
7. Mitch Moreland, 1B
8. Yorvit Torrealba, C
9. Julio Borbon, CF
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