Tigers on top perch, Rangers chasing to open the second half of the season
The Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers return from the All-Star break in vastly different positions when they square off on Friday in Arlington, Texas.
The Tigers send right-hander Reese Olson (4-3, 2.95 ERA) to the mound to start while the Rangers counter with southpaw Patrick Corbin (6-7, 4.15).
Detroit begins the second half of the season with the best record in the majors (59-38) and with an 11 1/2-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central standings. The Tigers limped to the break with a four-game losing streak -- all at home -- and understand that they will be a hunted team through the summer months and beyond.
'There are so many great things that we can look back on the first half,' Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson said. 'This team's great, and it's been great. Four games is nothing in a 162-game season. We will come back like we're 0-0. Regardless of our record, stay hungry.'
Olson takes the ball after recording three straight no-decisions and a 1-1 mark over his past five starts. He lost to the Rangers at home on May 11 after giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over four innings. He made one more start -- a no-decision in Toronto despite allowing just one hit over six innings -- before going in the injured list (finger) on May 18.
Olson returned to the rotation on July 4 and has been solid, allowing a combined three runs on 12 hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings.
He is 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings over three career starts against Texas, surrendering five runs on 16 hits and three walks while striking out 15.
Texas, meanwhile, is in chase mode. The Rangers start the second half at 48-49 and in third place in the AL West, 8 1/2 games behind front-running Houston and 3 1/2 back of second place Seattle. Texas took two of three games from the Astros in the series heading to the break.
'We gotta win games; we're not playing to get to .500, we're playing to get past that,' Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. 'It's been a tough mark to get to. '
Corbin has been a start-eater for the Rangers this year and is the only Texas pitcher not to miss his turn in the rotation. He is 3-3 with a 4.73 ERA in his last seven starts. Corbin won his second straight start on July 10, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks and six strikeouts over five innings in an 11-4 victory over the Angels in Anaheim, Calif.
Corbin is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers, including a loss this season in Detroit in which he gave up two runs on three hits and four walks in seven innings. He has surrendered five runs on 13 hits and six walks with 10 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings in his career versus the Tigers.
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