TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas won the series opener against the Tigers on Memorial Day, 5-0, as team is now 5-2 on this 9-G, 10-day road trip to PIT (2-1), BAL (2-1) and DET (1-0 + 2 G)…team is 4-1 in last 5 G…TEX has won 5 of 7, 9 of 12, 11 of 15, 13 of 18 and 16 of last 22 G…TEX is an MLB-best 20-8 (.714) in last 28 G beg. 4/28…TEX is 20-12 in last 32 G, 27-14 in last 41 G and 30-15 in last 45 G beg. 4/9.
- At 34-19 (.642), TEX owns the 2nd-best record in the A.L. and MLB (see chart below)…club’s 34 wins rank T2nd in A.L. and MLB (39-TB, 34-BAL/TEX).
- The 34-19 start is tied for the Rangers’ best 53-G start to a season in WSH/TEX franchise history (also 1996).
- TEX is now 15 G above .500 for the 2nd time in ’23 (also 5/27) and 2nd time in last 3 days…from 2020-22, TEX spent a total of one day above .500 (10-9 on 8/15/20)…club did not reach 34 wins until 6/25 in 2022 and 7/6 in 2021.
BEST RECORDS IN MLB, 2023
Win Pct. Team W-L
.696 Tampa Bay 39-17
.642 Texas 34-19
.630 Baltimore 34-20
.600 Los Angeles-NL 33-22
WITH A WIN TODAY, Texas could:
- Move to 35-19, which would mark the best 54-G start in franchise history…climbing to a season high 16 G above .500.
- Win the series against Detroit (improving to 8-2-0 in road series in ’23) and secure their 6th-straight road series win for the 1st time in franchise history…would also win 4th-consecutive series overall for the 2nd time this season (also 4/10-23).
STANDINGS: Rangers hold a 3.0-game lead in the A.L. West over 2nd-place HOU…club has held a 3.0-G lead in 5 of last 6 days…3-G lead in A.L. West is the 2nd-largest division lead in A.L. (TB, +4.0 GA of BAL) and 3rd-largest in MLB (ATL, +4.0 GA of MIA)…TEX has had sole possession of 1st place in the West for 24 straight, 31 of 32 and 44 of the last 46 days beg. 4/14…season-best +4.0-G lead on 5/14 was largest since end of 2016 (+9.0 GA), just 6th season in TEX history to have a lead of 4.0+ G in the West as early as 5/14…TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 59 of the season’s first 60 days (exception: 4/8).
SERIES STUFF: Club has won 3-straight series for the 3rd time this season (also 4/10-23 and 5/5-14)…club has gone 8-1-1 in last 10 series and 11-2-1 in last 14…team is 12-4-1 overall in series this year, going 6-2-1 at home and 6-2-0 on the road…club did not win a 12th series in 2022 until 7/28- 31 at LAA…TEX won 4 straight series from 4/10-23, longest such span since going 5-0-0 from 6/15-7/1/18…team has won all games of a series 3 times during this campaign (3-0, 3/30-4/2 vs. PHI; 3-0, 4/17-19 at KC; 3-0, 5/19-21 vs. COL)… club is 7-2-0 in last 9 series on the road.
LONG ROAD: TEX is 5-2 in the 1st 7 games of a 9-G, 10-day road trip that takes the team thru end of May…it marks the Rangers’ 2nd-consecutive 3-city road trip (7-3 from 5/5-14 at LAA/SEA/OAK), and the 2nd of a trio of 3-city trips in 2023 (also 8/21-30 at ARI/MIN/NYM)…team has won 9 of 12 and 12 of 16 on road after a season-long 4-G away losing skid.
- Club is 18-11 (.621) on road, 3rd-best away win pct. in A.L., 4th in MLB…club has won 5-straight road series for the 1st time since 5/20-6/19/16 at HOU/CLE/SEA/OAK/STL.
ROSTER MOVES: The Texas Rangers today announced the following roster moves prior to tonight’s game vs. DET:
- RHP Dane Dunning reinstated from MLB’s Paternity Leave List.
- RHP Joe Barlow placed on 15-day Injured List (retroactive to May 29) with an illness.
VS. DETROIT: Texas is now 1-0 in this 3 G set against the Tigers…it is the 1st of 2 series against DET this season, as they play 3 G here at Comerica Park (5/29-31) and then meet in Arlington for 3 G from 6/26-29…TEX went 3-4 vs. DET in 2022, and have lost consecutive season series against the Tigers (also 1-6 in 2021)…this after having won the season series in previous 5 straight years from 2015-19.
- TEX trails in the all-time series (250-255), including a 116- 141 mark in DET…club has gone 46-48 at Comerica Park (since 2000), losing 6 of last 9 G at this ballpark dating back to 2021…has still won 24 of last 38 G here (beg. 8/4/11).
MERRY MONTH OF MAY: Texas has put up stellar numbers throughout the second month of the season, as club owns the highest win pct. in MLB during May (17-8, .680)…it would be the club’s best win pct. for a month since June 2016 (20-8, .714)…the 17 wins in May match the most wins in a single month for TEX since the start of 2022 (17-10 in May 2022)… TEX starters own an MLB-leading 2.83 ERA in May.
OUTSTANDING OFFENSE: TEX leads MLB w/ 6.30 R/G and is 2nd w/ 334 R (335-TB)…club has 10+ R in an MLB-leading 13 G and has scored 5+ R in an inning 15 times this season.
- The 334 runs scored by TEX in ’23 are tied for most over the first 53 G of a season in franchise history (also 1998), and is T26th-most in modern era.
- TEX’s +128 R/D is 1st in MLB and the 10th-highest R/D in a team’s 1st 53 G of a season (since 1901).
- Current A.L. ranks: OBP (2nd, .339), OPS (2nd, .789), SLG (2nd, .450), TB (2nd, 827), 2B (2nd, 105), XBH (2nd, 182), H (3rd, 498)…own an MLB-best .333 BA (162-486) w/ RISP.
SEMIEN STANDARD: Marcus Semien yesterday extended his hitting streak to a career high 18 games, which is tops in the A.L. and T1st in MLB for active hitting streak (also LAD’s Freddie Freeman)…his 18-G hitting streak is the longest hit streak by a Ranger in ’23 and ranks 3rd in team history for a hitting steak by a 2B (see chart below)…totals during streak: .321 BA (25-78), 3 HR, 2 3B, 4 2B, 16 RBI, 4 BB/11 SO, 18 R.
- Semien has hits in 24 of 25 G in May at .330/.392/.519/.911, along with a 26-G on-base streak…has also reached base via H/BB in 28-straight road games…batting .303/.379/.541/.920 (37-122) w/ 7 HR and 32 RBI in 29 G on the road in ‘23.
- A.L. ranks for Semien this season among 2B: R (1st, 47), TB (1st, 106), H (1st, 65), RBI (1st, 44), 2B (1st, 13), OPS (1st, .855), 3B (T1st, 2), BA (2nd, .298)…his .481 BA (25-52) with RISP leads A.L. and ranks 2nd in MLB.
LONGEST HITTING STREAKS BY A SECOND BASEMAN,
RANGERS HISTORY, SPANNING SEASONS (PER ELIAS)
Streak (G) Player Span
25 G Ian Kinsler 6/17-7/13/08
19 G Ian Kinsler 5/16-6/4/08
18 G Marcus Semien 5/10-current
JUNG IS IN: Josh Jung extended his hitting streak yesterday to a career-best 12-straight G, and has hits in 16 of his last 17 G at .358 (24-67)…is currently T5th-longest hitting streak by a TEX rookie, spanning seasons, in franchise history (also Michael Young, 7/8-25/01)…next on the list? 14 G streak by Ruben Mateo from 4/25-5/10/00…longest hitting streak by a TEX rookie? 16-G streak by Elvis Andrus from 8/28-9/14/09.
NATHAN REIGNS AGAIN: Nathan Eovaldi tossed 5 SHO IP yesterday, along with 4 H and 3 BB/4 SO, to secure his team-leading 7th win of ’23, T2nd-most in A.L./MLB…lowered his season ERA to 2.42, 6th in A.L…Eovaldi has lasted at least 5 IP in all 11 starts in ’23 and has allowed more than 3 R only once…is now 4-0, 0.96 ERA (4 ER/37.2 IP) with 4 quality starts in May…his May ranks: innings (1st), ERA (1st), pitches/game (1st, 102.4), wins (T1st), HR/9 (3rd, 0.48), WHIP ( 5th, 0.85), opp. BA (6th), FIP (7th, 2.98).
SHORTS: Martín Pérez is 5-0 in last 8 starts…his 6 W in ’23 are T5th in A.L…Leody Taveras went 3-for-4 yesterday, his 7th-career G of 3+ H…is slashing .395/.448/.535/.983 in May.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #54 Martín Pérez, LHP
(6-1, 3.83)
TONIGHT: The 32-year-old left-hander is scheduled to make his 11th start of the season tonight in game 2 of 3 here in the Motor City…has posted ultra-quality starts (7.0+ IP, 2-or-fewer ER) in each of his last 2 outings to drop his season ERA from 4.25 to 3.83…is unbeaten (5-0) in his last 8 starts, as his 6 wins in 2023 are 2nd among Rangers (7-Eovaldi) and T5th in A.L… opponents have batted .296/.343/.451/.794 (67-226) with 18 extra-base hits (8 HR, 3B, 9 2B) this season, the highest opp. BA allowed by any qualified MLB pitcher in ‘23…will be working on extra 5 days’ rest after earning the win in Texas’ 3-2 victory on Wed. at PIT (see below)…has already allowed 8 HR (1.28 HR/9) this season after permitting just 11 HR (0.50 HR/9) in all of 2022…made 2 starts for Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting no record and a 9.82 ERA (4 ER/3.2 IP)…after returning to the Rangers on a one-year free agent deal for 2022, he elected to stay with Texas in 2023 on a one-year deal after accepting the club’s qualifying offer in November…spent the first 11 seasons of his professional career with the Rangers (2008-18), and has been with the organization for 12 of his 15 years as a pro…left the club for 3 years for brief stints with Minnesota (2019) and Boston (2020-21)…since 2016, his first full campaign after returning from ‘Tommy John’ surgery, has the 2nd-most starts (185) and 2nd-most innings pitched (1063.0) of any pitcher in the American League…saw two seasons cut short in 2014-15 following ‘Tommy John’ ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow on 5/19/14…Texas has gone 7-3 in his 10 starts this season.
LAST START: Earned the win in Texas’ 3-2 victory on Wed. at PIT (W, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R-ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 95 pitches/64 strikes)…recorded season-high 15 ground balls, 2 of which resulted in GIDP’s…allowed both runs in the 2nd inning on a fielder’s choice RBI (Suwinski) and run-scoring single (Delay), but held Buccos scoreless over final 5.0 frames…was staked to an early 3-0 lead after the Rangers posted a 3-run rally in the first inning, which accounted for the club’s entire offensive output on the day…Pérez exited with Texas leading, 3-2, and was awarded the win when LHP Will Smith delivered a scoreless, 5-out save after entering with one out and the bases loaded in the 8th.
FOREVER RANGER: Has a 61-58 record with a 4.25 ERA over 183 games/170 starts in his Rangers career, ranking among club’s all-time leaders in starts (7th), innings (7th, 1014.0), wins (10th), and strikeouts (12th, 672)…his 61 wins are the 3rd-most ever by a Texas left-hander, trailing only Kenny Rogers (133) and Derek Holland (62)…Pérez and Rogers (1909.0 IP) are the only LHP in TEX history to log 1000.0+ IP with the club.
- Since returning to Texas prior to the start of the 2022 campaign, Pérez has gone 18-9, 3.10 ERA (87 ER/252.2 IP) in 42 G/GS…ranks among qualified A.L. pitchers over that span in innings (4th), quality starts (T4th, 27), HR/9 (5th, 0.68), ground ball pct. (5th, 49.3%), starts (T5th), and wins (T6th).
VS. DETROIT / AT COMERICA PARK: Pérez has gone 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA (34 ER/51.0 IP) in 11 G/10 GS vs. Detroit in his career…tossed a 7.0-inning gem in his last outing against the Tigers on 6/16/22 here at Comerica Park (ND, 7.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R-ER, 0 BB, 5 SO), but is still seeking his first win against the Motor City Kitties since 8/25/19 vs. DET w/ MIN (W, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO)…the southpaw is winless (0-4) with a 6.83 ERA (21 ER/27.2 IP) in 6 career G/GS career at this venue.
ON THE ROAD: 7 of Pérez’s 10 starts this season have come away from Arlington, and he is 3-1, 4.78 ERA (20 ER/37.2 IP) on the road in 2023…7 road starts are tied for most among Rangers (also Eovaldi) and most in MLB (11 others)…all 8 HR allowed this season have come in road outings, as opponents have batted .301/.351/.490/.841 (46-153) in his away starts vs. .288/.325/.370/.695 (21-73) at Globe Life Field.
2023: Opponents have batted .296/.343/.451/.794 (67-226) with 18 extra-base hits (8 HR, 3B, 9 2B), incl. opp. BA’s of .368 (14-38) vs. LHB and
.282 (53-188) vs. RHB…3.60 pitches per batter faced is lowest mark in A.L./3rd-lowest among ML qualifiers (3.56-PIT’s J. Oviedo, 3.58-SF’s A. DeSclafani)…TEX has scored 6+ runs in of 8 of Pérez’s 10 starts, as his 9.43 run support average (RSA) ranks highest among qualified ML pitchers (2nd is MIN’s J. Ryan with an 8.26 RSA)…opp. BA by time thru the order: 1st (.235, 19-81), 2nd (.337, 28-83) and 3rd (.333, 20-60)…Jonah Heim has caught all 10 of Pérez’s starts.
DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:
TIGERS DROP SERIES OPENER TO TEXAS: The Tigers were shut out by the Rangers, 5-0, in Monday’s series opener. Riley Greene had a pair of hits, while Akil Baddoo, Javier Báez and Zach McKinstry each had one hit. Matthew Boyd started for Detroit and took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Mason Englert pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief, while Tyler Alexander tossed a shutout frame.
ROSTER MOVES: The Tigers have announced the following roster moves:
*Placed LHP Eduardo Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list (left index finger pulley rupture), retroactive to May 29
*Placed OF Matt Vierling on the 10-day injured list (low back soreness), retroactive to May 29
*Recalled RHP Braden Bristo and INF Tyler Nevin from Triple A Toledo
ZACH ATTACK: Zach McKinstry reached base twice in yesterday’s game, going 1×3 with a walk. Over his last nine games, McKinstry has reached base safely 23 times, the first Tiger to reach base that many times over a nine-game span since Ian Kinsler was on base 23 times from September 18-October 1, 2016. In 24 games this month, McKinstry is slashing .318/.478/.439 with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI. For the season, he has a .412 on-base percentage, which ranks second in the American League and fourth in the Majors (min. 150 plate appearances).
EASY BEING GREENE: Riley Greene had a pair of hits in yesterday’s game to extend his hitting streak to eight games. Greene has hit safely in 25 of his last 29 games, slashing .353/.423/.526 with nine doubles, a triple, three home runs and 12 RBI. Since April 26, Greene leads the American League and ranks fourth in the Majors in batting average, while he ranks third in the AL and seventh in the big leagues in on-base percentage.
HOW DO YOU BADDOO?: Akil Baddoo went 1×3 with a walk on Monday to stretch his hitting streak to five games. He has now recorded a hit in 12 of his last 18 games, during which he is hitting .327/.441/.571 with three doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI.
WALK THIS WAY: The Tigers continued to show patience at the plate yesterday, drawing five walks. Detroit has drawn four-or-more walks in nine straight games, the team’s longest streak since a nine-game stretch from April 20-29, 2008. After finishing last season 29th in the Majors with a 6.5% walk rate, the Tigers enter tonight ranked seventh in the big leagues with a 9.4% walk rate.
TIGERS AND RANGERS: The Tigers and Rangers continue their seven-game season series tonight. Along with the three games in Detroit, the two teams will play a four-game set in Arlington from June 26-29. Detroit went 4-3 against Texas last season, including splitting a four-game series at Comerica Park. The Tigers have won the season series from the Rangers each of the last two years.
AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers are 3-2 on their current seven-game homestand, which includes four games vs. Chicago (AL) (3-1) and three games vs. Texas (0-1). Detroit is 13-12 at Comerica Park this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .232/.314/.362, while the pitching staff has posted a 4.38 ERA (230.0IP/112ER).
INJURY REHAB UPDATE: Kerry Carpenter continued an injury rehab assignment with Triple A Toledo last night, starting at designated hitter and going 1×4 with a run scored and a walk. In three injury rehab games, Carpenter is 2×10 with two runs scored and two walks. Carpenter has been sidelined since April 29 with a right shoulder sprain.
TIGERS ON THE IL:
- RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 60-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)
- OF Kerry Carpenter (right shoulder sprain, 10-day IL on April 29, retroactive to April 28)
- RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 60-day IL on April 12)
- OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 60-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
- RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
- RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)
- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (left index finger pulley rupture, 15-day IL on May 30, retroactive to May 29)
- LHP Tarik Skubal (left elbow strain, 60-day IL on March 14)
- RHP Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort, 15-day IL on May 12, retroactive to May 7)
- OF Matt Vierling (low back soreness, 10-day IL on May 30, retroactive to May 29)
- RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 15-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)
TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER – #49 Alex Faedo • 1-2, 4.15 ERA (21.2IP/10ER)
- Faedo will make his fifth start of the season for the Tigers tonight vs. Texas.
- Earned his first win of the season on Thursday vs. Chicago (AL), pitching 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts…became the third pitcher in franchise history to throw 6.0 innings with three-or-fewer hits allowed, no walks and 10-or-more strikeouts, joining Denny McLain on July 21, 1965 vs. Cleveland (Game 2) and Aníbal Sánchez on August 3, 2014 vs. Colorado.
- Will be making his first career appearance against the Rangers tonight…in eight career starts at Comerica Park, Faedo has a 1-4 record with a 5.22 ERA (39.2IP/23ER) and 40 strikeouts.
- Has made five starts with Triple A Toledo this season, posting a 0-1 record with a 2.50 ERA (18.0IP/5ER) and 19 strikeouts.
- Began his big league career by throwing at least 5.0 innings and allowing no more than two runs in each of his first seven starts… according to the Elias Sports Bureau, joined Jered Weaver in 2006 and Boo Ferriss in 1945 as the only pitchers to accomplish that…was the first Tigers pitcher to ever do so in more than four straight games to start his career.
