Conjuring up memories of their epic matchup in the 2011 ALCS, the Detroit Tigers head south to face off with the Texas Rangers in a three-game series starting on Tuesday.
After salvaging the final game of a rough four-game set with the Kansas City Royals last week, the Tigers carried the momentum of that victory over into a sweep of the Indians in Cleveland this weekend - retaking sole possession of the AL Central lead in the process.
The depleted Rangers hope their luck will change with the Tigers in town, as Texas has skidded to five games under .500 with a five-game losing streak.
Snapshot:
Home: Texas Rangers (35-40, 16-19 home)
Away: Detroit Tigers (40-32, 21-13 away)
Key Stat:
Compared to the past four seasons, the Texas Rangers are experiencing a power outage of epic proportions in 2014.
The Rangers' 54 home runs this year land them in a tie for 26th in the Majors with the San Diego Padres - a far cry from the "hang 'em and bang 'em" days of the beginning of this decade.
Tigers Notes:
Are the Tigers readying to be buyers before the 2014 MLB trading deadline?
According to Lynn Henning of The Detroit News, "the Tigers will be of a mind to deal. Dave Dombrowski is one of the better dealers in the game, as proved by past swaps for Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez, Ian Kinsler and others, who aided in putting a first-place 2014 Tigers team in position to win a fourth consecutive division title.
A dynamic bat or a shutdown starter (or both) might be exactly what helps the Tigers separate themselves from the rest of the AL Central mix.
Rangers Notes:
Despite a multitude of injuries which have spread the team as thin as can possibly be over the first 75 games of the 2014 MLB season, the Texas Rangers are keeping their chin up.
"We’re not giving up by any means,” third baseman Adrian Beltre said, via Drew Davison of the Star-Telegram. “We cannot look back and feel sorry for ourselves because of all the injuries. Oakland is playing well, the Angels are too, but there’s a long way to go. We believe we can somehow find a way to get back.”
Three big victories over a streaking Detroit Tigers team in Arlington would be a heck of a way to start.
What to Watch For:
Ever since the Detroit Tigers fell in six games to the Texas Rangers in the 2011 American League Championship Series, the Tigers have been snake-bitten against the Lone Star State sluggers.
Detroit has mustered just a 7-14 record against Texas since that series - including a 35-15 shellacking at the hands of the Rangers while losing out of four to Texas in the teams' first series of this year (May 22nd-25th).
What They're Saying About the Tigers:
Hunter willing to take lesser role if Tigers keep winning (Detroit Free Press)
Ausmus manages bullpen with long haul in mind (Detroit Free Press)
What They're Saying About the Rangers:
Rangers assessing trade value of "core-type" players (NY Daily News)
Feliz keeping his head up in the face of adversity (Official Site of the Rangers)
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