DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS DROP 8-3 DECISION TO RANGERS: The Tigers lost to the Rangers, 8-3, last night. Spencer Torkelson hit a game-tying solo homer in the eighth inning, while Miguel Cabrera and Tyler Nevin each had a hit and a RBI. Matt Manning returned from the injured list, allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Brendan White took the loss in relief, giving up two runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout in 2.0 innings.

ROSTER MOVES: The Tigers have announced the following roster moves:
*Following last night’s game, optioned LHP Anthony Misiewicz to Triple A Toledo

*Recalled RHP Garrett Hill from Triple A Toledo

MIGGY MAGIC: Miguel Cabrera finished last night’s game 1×3 with a RBI and a walk. Since May 30, Cabrera is hitting .358/.438/.528 with six doubles, a home run and six RBI. Among Major League players with at least 50 at-bats in that span, Cabrera ranks fourth in batting average, while he is sixth in on-base percentage.

MIGGY AGAINST THE RANGERS: Miguel Cabrera continued his success against the Rangers last night. In 101 career games vs. Texas, Cabrera is slashing .383/.444/.598 with 36 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs and 87 RBI. Among active players with at least 100 at-bats against the Rangers, Cabrera ranks first in batting average, while he is second in on-base and slugging percentage.

FULLY TORKED: Spencer Torkelson snapped an 0x13 skid with a game-tying solo home run in the eighth inning last night, his ninth round-tripper of the season. It marked his first career gametying or go-ahead homer in the eighth inning-or-later.

TIGERS AND RANGERS: The Tigers and Rangers continue their season series tonight. Texas has won three of the first five meetings this season. The Tigers won the season series from the Rangers last season 4-3, including winning twoof-three games in Arlington.

ON THE ROAD: The Tigers are 1-1 on their current seven-game road trip, which includes four games at Texas (1-1) and three games at Colorado (June 30-July 2). Detroit is 16-23 on the road this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .215/.286/.342 away from Comerica Park, while the pitching staff has compiled a 4.18 ERA
(337.2IP/157ER).

TIGERS ON THE IL:

• OF Akil Baddoo (right quad strain, 10-day IL on June 10)
• LHP Matthew Boyd (left elbow sprain, 60-day IL on June 27)
• RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 60-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)
• RHP Alex Faedo (right middle finger discomfort, 15-day IL on June 3, retroactive to May 31)
• OF Riley Greene (left fibula stress reaction, 10-day IL on May 31)
• 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, 60-day IL on May 12, retroactive to May 7)
• RHP Will Vest (right lower leg strain, 15-day IL on June 27)
• RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 60-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)

TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER

43 Joey Wentz • 1-8, 6.72 ERA (67.0IP/50ER)

• Wentz will make his 16th appearance overall and his 15th start of the season tonight at Texas.
• Took the loss in his last start on Friday against the Twins, giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
• Faced the Rangers for the first time in his career earlier this season on May 31 in Detroit and received a no decision after allowing a run on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in 4.1 innings…will be making his first career appearance at Globe Life Field.
• Struck out a career-high nine batters on June 17 vs. Minnesota, allowing two runs on two hits with one walk in 6.0 innings.
• Saw his first Major League action in 2022, starting seven games and posting a 2-2 record with a 3.03 ERA (32.2IP/11ER) and 27 strikeouts… also appeared in 12 games, including 11 starts, with Triple A Toledo and went 2-2 with a 3.17 ERA (48.1IP/17ER) and 53 strikeouts.

TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:

WINS AND LOSSES: Texas defeated the Tigers last night in comeback fashion, 8-3, in the 2nd game of this 8-day, 8-G homestand vs. DET (1-1 + 2 G) and HOU (4 G)…Rangers snapped a 3 G losing streak, but have still lost 4 of last 7 G… club is 6-4 in last 10 G after a 2-7 span from 6/7-16…have a 8-11 record last 19 G beg. 6/7…team is still 13-11 in June, and has won 15 of 27, 19 of 32, 22 of 36, and 30 of last 48 G (beg. 5/6)…team still has A.L.-best 34-20 (.630) record since 4/28, T2nd in MLB to only ATL (35-18, .660)…TEX is 40-25 in last 65 G and 44-27 last 71 G beg. 4/9.

• At 48-31 (.608), TEX owns the 4th-best record in MLB to TB (.659, 54-28), ATL (.658, 52-27), and BAL (.615, 48-30)… club’s 48 wins rank T3rd in MLB (54-TB, 52-ATL, 48-ARI/BAL/ TEX).
• The 48-31 mark is the T3rd-best 79-G start to a season in Washington/Texas franchise history (see chart below).
• TEX is 17 G above .500, 3 shy of matching season high point of 20-over (40-20 after win 6/6 vs. STL)…it was team’s most games above .500 since end of 2016 (95-67) and the earliest date/fewest games (6/6 and 60 G) ever to reach that mark.

STANDINGS: Rangers enter today with a 5.0-game lead in the A.L. West over 2nd-place LAA, losing only 1.0 G on the division lead during recent 1-3 stretch in the last 4 days days…had a season-best 6.5-G lead in West after Friday’s win at NYY, which was largest division lead since winning the West by 9.0 G in 2016…the current 5.0-G lead is still 2nd-largest in MLB to only ATL (+6.5 GA in N.L. East) for largest division lead in MLB…TEX has had sole possession of 1st place in the West for 52 straight, 59 of 60 and 72 of the last 74 days beg. 4/14.

• TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 87 of the season’s first 88 days (exception: 4/8).

SERIES STUFF: TEX dropped the series in New York last weekend and have now lost 3 of last 5 series after a stretch of 6 straight series victories from 5/19-6/7…those 6 straight series wins marked longest span for team since club-record 10 straight series victories from 5/20-6/20/16…club is 17-7-1 overall in series this year, going 8-3-1 at home and 9-4-0 on the road…is 13-4-1 in last 18 series and 16-5-1 in last 22… TEX has gone 7-2-1 in last 10 series at GLF.

AT HOME: TEX is 25-14 (.641) at home, 2nd-best home record in A.L./MLB to TB (.773, 34-10)…marks TEX’s best 39-G start at home since 2019 (25-14), and is T5th-best mark after 39 home games in team history (see chart)…club has won 3 of 4 and 4 of last 7 G at GLF, but is 4-6 in last 10 G at home… TEX has still won 12 of 18, 13 of 20, 17 of 26, and 22 of last 34 at GLF beg. 4/5…TEX owns a 111-120 all-time record at GLF (2020-23), 31-21 last 52 G here beg. 9/11/22.

• TEX leads MLB in R/G (6.33) at home in 2023, 2nd in MLB in runs at home (247) to only TB (258), which has played 6 more home contests.

VS. DETROIT: TEX is 3-2 vs. DET in ’23: 5/29-31 at DET (2- 1), 6/26-29 at TEX (1-1 + 2 G)…went 3-4 vs. DET in ’22, and has lost consecutive season series (1-6 in ’21)…club won the season series in previous 5 straight years (’15-’19)…TEX is 3-5 vs. DET all-time at GLF, losing 4 of last 6 and dropping both series here…TEX trails all-time series (252-256).

BOCHY MASTERCLASS: Trailing 1-2 with 2 on and 2 outs in the 6th inning last night, TEX manager Bruce Bochy brought on Josh Jung as a pinch-hitter for just his 2nd career pinch-plate appearance…Jung connected for an RBI single for the 1st pinch-hit and RBI of his career…following an infield single by Ezequiel Duran, Leody Taveras pinch-hit and notched a go-ahead RBI single to give TEX its 1st lead of the night.

• According to Stathead, it marked the 1st time that a pair of TEX pinch-hitters have produced game-tying and go-ahead RBI in the same inning since a 4-3 win on 7/7/01 at SD, when pinch-hitters Andrés Galarraga (game-tying) and Gabe Kapler (go-ahead) each collected RBI singles in the top of the 7th inning…the manager for that Padres team? Bruce Bochy.

WELCOME TO MY HOUSE: Adolis García launched his 19th HR of the season last night, T3rd in the A.L…his team-leading 63 RBI (2nd in A.L./MLB) in ’23 are already the most by a Ranger prior to the All-Star break since Nelson Cruz in ’13 (69 RBI)….he has batted .294/.372/.608/.980 (42-143) with 13 HR and 37 RBI across 39 G at GLF in ’23, ranking among MLB leaders at home in RBI (1st), HR (1st), R (1st, 36), TB (T2nd, 87), SLG (4th), and OPS (7th)…García is GLF’s alltime leader in HR (47), RBI (148), and R (124).

THERE’S A NEW ZEKE IN TOWN: Ezequiel Duran’s 8th inn. HR last night came on a 12-pitch AB, as he became the 1st TEX batter to homer on the 12th+ pitch of an at-bat
since Adrián Beltré on 7/19/11 at LAA (12th pitch off Michael Kohn)… Duran’s career-high 10 HR this season are the most by a TEX infielder in his age 24-or-younger season since Ronald Guzmán in 2019 (also 10 HR)…Duran has multiple hits in 3 straight, 5 of 6, and 7 of his last 9 G at .432 (16-37).

COMFORTS OF HOME: Although Martín Pérez did not factor into the decision last night, he turned in his 3rd QS in as many outings (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R-ER, 2 BB, 4 SO)…he went on to hold DET hitless (0-for-11, 2 BB) over the final 4.0 IP to exit with a 3-2 lead..over his 6 home starts in ’23, Pérez owns a 3-1 record with a 1.91 ERA (8 ER/37.2 IP), the 2nd-best home ERA in the A.L. (min. 6 GS)…Pérez is also riding a 5 G streak of quality starts at GLF.

BACK TO SCORING WAYS: After yesterday’s 8-3 victory over the Tigers, Texas has now outscored its opponents 468- 316 (+152) in ’23…it is the highest R/D in MLB this season (2nd is TB at +146), and the highest over any 79-game span in WSH/TEX franchise history…it is the 7th-largest R/D in the first 79 G of a season in baseball’s Expansion Era (beg. ’61).

HIGHEST TEAM R/D OVER SEASON’S FIRST 79 G, EXPANSION ERA (beg. 1961)
Year Team Run Diff.
2018 Houston Astros +169
2022 New York Yankees +164
2016 Chicago Cubs +161
1969 Baltimore Orioles +160
1998 New York Yankees +155
2023 Tampa Bay Rays +153
2023 Texas Rangers +152

A RISPY OFFENSE: The Rangers went 3-for-10 with RISP last night (scoring 4 R), this after going 0-for-10 w/ RISP in the 1st game of the series on Mon…TEX is batting .211 (36- 171) w/ RISP over its last 19 G (beg. 6/7), but still owns MLB’s highest BA (.308) and OPS (.871) w/ RISP this season…the Rangers also lead MLB in both R (468) and R/G (5.92) in ’23.

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #33 Dane Dunning, RHP
(6-1, 2.76)

TONIGHT: The 28-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his 10th start/18th appearance of the season in tonight’s game vs. DET…his 2.76 ERA (22 ER/71.2 IP) is 4th-lowest in A.L. and 8th-lowest in MLB among pitchers with 70.0+ IP this season…has made 9 starts since joining the rotation on 5/5, going 4-1, 3.16 (18 ER/51.1 IP) with 16 BB/30 SO…has allowed just 4 HR this season, as 0.50 HR/9 figure is 2nd-lowest in A.L. and 4th-lowest in MLB (min. 70.0 IP) to MIN’s Sonny Gray (0.31), CHC’s Justin Steele (0.34), and CHC’s Marcus Stroman (0.44)…will pitch on regular 4 days’ rest after taking no decision in Rangers’ 4-2, 10-inning win on Fri. at NYY (see below)…6 wins in 2023 are career high (prev. 5 in 2021)…just 17 of 63 hits allowed this season have gone for extra bases (4 HR, 13 2B), and .333 opp. SLG figure is 3rd-lowest in A.L. (min. 70.0+ IP)… established career highs in many categories last season, ranking 2nd on the Texas staff in starts (29), innings (153.1), and strikeouts (137)…missed time in 2022 for a pair of IL stints: 7/11-25/22 (right ankle impingement) and 9/27/22-end of season (right hip surgery)…had season-ending surgery on 9/26/22 for a right hip labral repair, with the surgery performed by Dr. William Robertson in Arlington…is 15-19 with a 4.12 ERA (157 ER/342.2 IP) for the Rangers over the last 3 seasons (2021-23) since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a 3-player trade involving RHP Lance Lynn on 12/8/20…pitched 3 seasons at the University of Florida, helping the Gators to College World Series appearances in both 2015 and 2016…Texas is 5-4 in his 9 starts in 2023.

LAST START: Took no decision in Rangers’ 4-2, 10-inning win on Fri. at NYY (ND, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R-ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 87 pitches/58 strikes)…logged season-high 7.0 innings despite tossing just 87 pitches, as he benefitted from 3 GIDP’s… marked the 1st time a TEX pitcher has induced 3+ GIDP’s in a single outing since Martín Pérez on 10/3/22 vs. NYY (also 3)…exited leading 2-1 with 2 on, none out in the 8th, but was removed from ledger after John King allowed game-tying run (Higashioka sac fly)…Rangers went on to win in extra innings thanks to Adolis García’s go-ahead 2-run HR in the 10th.

VS. DETROIT: Has gone winless (0-3) with a 5.70 ERA (15 ER/23.2 IP) in 5 career games/starts vs. Detroit…has suffered losses in 3 straight outings against the Tigers, including his lone defeat of 2023 on 5/31 at DET (L, 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R-ER, 1 BB, 6 SO)…was undone by 2-run, 4-hit 6th inning in that outing.

AS A STARTER: Has gone 4-1, 3.16 (18 ER/51.1 IP) in his 9 starts for TEX in 2023, spanning his last 9 outings…has exited 7 of 9 starts with the Rangers holding a lead…made 8 straight relief app. to open the year, but a majority of Dunning’s Major League appearances (70 of 80) have come as a starter…he owns a lifetime 15-19 record and 4.25 ERA (167 ER/353.1 IP) in those 70 career starts, with opponents batting .262/.337/.414/.750 (355-1354)…he went 4-8, 4.46 ERA (76 ER/153.1 IP) in 29 starts for Texas in 2022, registering an A.L.-high 17 no-decisions…Dunning’s 63 starts in a Texas uniform over the last 3 seasons (beg. 2021) are the most among Rangers.

AT HOME / GLOBE LIFE FIELD: Dunning is 4-0 with a 3.09 ERA (12 ER/35.0 IP) in 8 G/4 GS in Arlington this season, with Texas going 6-2 in his appearances here…has earned wins 3 of his last 4 starts at home this season…throughout his career, has seen far better results in his outings at home (14-5, 3.36 ERA in 42 G/37 GS) than on the road (3-14, 5.05 ERA in 38 G/33 GS).

• Owns a lifetime 13-5 record and 3.32 ERA (70 ER/189.2 IP) in 38 games/33 starts at Globe Life Field…he is the facility’s all-time leader (including 2020 postseason) in wins (13), starts (33), innings (189.2), and strikeouts (172).

2023: Opponents have batted .239/.305/.333/.638 (63-264) with 17 extra-base hits (4 HR, 13 2B), incl. opp. BA’s of .234 (25-107) vs. LHB and .242 (38-157) vs. RHB…opp. BA by time thru the order: 1st (.220, 28-127), 2nd (.237, 22-93), 3rd (.295, 13-44)…6 wins are T3rd-most on club…20.1 relief innings still rank 7th for TEX…has 3 relief app. of 3.0+ SHO IP…earned win on 4/17 at KC (4.1 SHO IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 SO), as he and Jacob deGrom (4.0 SHO IP) became just the 2nd Rangers duo in the last 40 years (beg. 1984) to each have at least 4.0 SHO IP in the same game (also 5.0-Kameron Loe, 4.0-C.J. Wilson on 8/26/05 vs. MIN)…his win on 5/10 at SEA ended a span in which he had gone winless in 27 consecutive road starts with CWS and TEX, the 2nd-longest winless road span as a starter in modern era behind only COL’s Scott Elarton (29 from 2001-05).