In the second of a three-game series between the Texas Rangers (69-48) and the Detroit Tigers (61-54) at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Cole Hamels (12-3, 2.89 ERA) and Matt Boyd (3-2, 4.69 ERA) get the ball. The Tigers lost the last game 8-5, extending a five-game losing streak. The game starts at 8:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 13 and will air on FSDT and FSSW.
In his last start, Hamels pitched 6.0 innings, allowing two runs, striking out six and walking one in a 4-3 victory over the Rockies. Carlos Beltran (.306, 54 Rs, 24 HRs, 69 RBIs) played well again yesterday, going 2 for 4 with three runs, one home run, and one RBI. The Tigers were unsuccessful against the Mariners 6-5 the last time Boyd pitched. He went 1.0 inning, allowing zero runs, striking out one and walking one. Miguel Cabrera (.310, 65 Rs, 26 HRs, 76 RBIs) has been doing well offensively for the Tigers, going 2 for 4 yesterday.
Texas is a considerable -180 favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at nine runs. The Rangers have a winning record of 29-17 when playing as the favorite and an overall money line of +2,528. The Rangers come into the game with the AL’s third-ranked home scoring offense, averaging 5.3 runs per game in their own ballpark. The Rangers rank fourth in the AL in hits with 9.1 per game.
On the other side, the Tigers have a record of 30-40 when they are the underdog and are +1,289 overall with the money line. They have played poorly as the underdog as of late. They managed a 1-3 record when playing as the underdog and a SU record of 5-5. The Tigers rank fifth in the AL in scoring, averaging 4.7 runs per game.
The previous four games have all gone Texas’s way. This game will feature Boyd (LHP) on the mound against the Rangers, who have a 17-15 record when they take on a left-handed starter. The left-handed Hamels will take the mound against the Tigers, who have a 16-17 record against lefty starters this season.
Predictions: SU Winner – TEX, O/U – Over
Notes
Texas is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Texas’s last 13 games.
Texas is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas’s last 7 games when playing Detroit.
Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Texas’s last 8 games when playing at home against Detroit.
Texas is 14-7 SU in its last 21 games when playing at home against Detroit.
Detroit has won 57% (30-23) of its games when leading after seven innings. However, Texas has won 59% (32-22) of its games when taking a late lead.
The Tigers are coming into this game after allowing two walks during their last outing. The Rangers have a 35-31 record when opponents give up two walks or less.
When they outhit their opponents, the Tigers are 46-11. The Rangers have a 45-9 record when outhitting opponents.
Texas and Detroit both rank in the top 10 of the league in runs. Texas sits at sixth with 554 runs this season and Detroit ranks eighth with 541.
Ranking 27th, Texas is near the bottom of the league in walks, notching 304 this season. Detroit ranks in the bottom half at 17th with 340.
When the Rangers hit at least one home run, they are 57-33, well-matched with the Tigers who are 50-30 when hitting one or more homers.
