TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas lost the series finale to the Orioles yesterday, 3-2, as team is now 4-2 on this 9-G, 10-day road trip to PIT (2-1), BAL (2-1) and DET (3 G)…loss snapped a season high-tying 4-G winning streak…TEX has won 4 of 6, 8 of 11, 10 of 14, 12 of 17 and 15 of last 21 G…TEX is an MLB-best 19-8 (.704) in last 27 G beg. 4/28…TEX is 19-12 in last 31 G, 26-14 in last 40 G and 29-15 in last 44 G beg. 4/9.
- At 33-19 (.635), TEX owns the 3rd-best record in the A.L. and MLB (see chart below)…club’s 33 wins rank 3rd in A.L. and MLB (39-TB, 34-BAL).
- The 33-19 start is tied for the Rangers’ best 52-G start to a season in WSH/TEX franchise history (also 1996).
- TEX is now 14 G above .500 for the 2nd time in ’23 (also 5/26)…club reached a season high 15 G-above before yesterday’s game…from 2020-22, TEX spent a total of one day above .500 (10-9 on 8/15/20)…club did not reach 33 wins in 2022 until 6/22.
BEST RECORDS IN MLB, 2023
Win Pct. Team W-L
.709 Tampa Bay 39-16
.642 Baltimore 34-19
.635 Texas 33-19
.604 Atlanta 32-21
WITH A WIN TODAY, Texas could:
- Climb to a season high-tying 15 G above .500 for the 2nd time this season (also 5/27).
- Move to 34-19, which would tie the best 52-G start in team history (also 1996).
- Improve to 5-2 on current 9-G sojourn, securing their 2nd-consecutive winning road trip (7-3 from 5/5-14 at LAA, SEA and OAK).
STANDINGS: Rangers hold a 2.0-game lead in the A.L. West over 2nd-place HOU…club held a 3.0 for 4-consecutive days until yesterday…2-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, +4.5 GA of MIA)…club also held a lead of 2+ G in the division for 14-straight days (5/7-21)…TEX has had sole possession of 1st place in the West for 23 straight, 30 of 31 and 43 of the last 45 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 58 of the season’s first 59 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.
VS. DETROIT: Texas begins the 1st of 2 series against Detroit this season, as they will play 3 G here at Comerica Park (5/29-31) and then meet in Arlington for a 3-G set 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 season series in previous 5 straight years from 2015-19…TEX is 4-10 against DET in last 14 G.
- Texas trails in the all-time series (249-255), including a 115-141 mark in Detroit…has gone 45-48 at Comerica Park (since 2000), losing 6 of last 8 G at this ballpark dating back to 2021…has still won 23 of last 37 G here (beg. 8/4/11).
MEMORIAL DAY: Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was initially established in the aftermath of the Civil War…Decoration Day was declared as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers…TEX defeated the Rays in last year’s Memorial Day contest, 9-5, snapping a 3-G losing streak during Memorial Day games…club is 6-5 in last 11, going 20-32 all-time on this holiday…today will mark the 1st Memorial Day where the Rangers are above .500 since 2016 (30-21).
- This will be 3rd-ever Memorial Day matchup between the Rangers and Tigers (1-1 record)…the others were held on 5/25/87 at DET (8-5 loss) and 5/29/00 at DET (3-2 win).
LONG ROAD: TEX is 4-2 in the 1st 6 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 8 of 11 and 11 of 15 on road after a season-long 4-G away losing skid.
- Club is 17-11 (.607) 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.
OUTSTANDING OFFENSE: TEX leads MLB w/ 6.33 R/G and ranks 2nd w/ 329 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…ranks T2nd in MLB w/ 4+ R in 37 G…team leads A.L. w/ a 151 R in May, along with a .283 BA and .341 BABIP.
- The 329 runs scored by TEX in ’23 are the most over the first 52 G of a season in franchise history, and is T16th-most R in an A.L. team’s 1st 52 G of a season (since 1901).
- TEX’s +123 R/D is 1st in MLB and the 14th-highest R/D in a team’s 1st 52 G of a season since 1901 (see chart below).
HIGHEST RUN DIFF. IN 1ST 52-G OF SEASON, MLB HISTORY
Rank Team/Year Run Diff.
T11 Houston (2018) +125
New York-AL (1927, ’53)
14 Texas (2023) +123
15 Boston (1946) +121
COUNT ON SEMIEN: Marcus Semien yesterday extended his hitting streak to a career high-tying 17 games, (also 6/4- 20/19 w/OAK) which is currently tops in A.L. and T1st in MLB for active hitting streak (also LAD’s Freddie Freeman)….. his 17-G hitting streak is the longest season hit streak by a Ranger in ’23…totals during streak: .320 BA (24-75), 3 HR, 2 3B, 4 2B, 15 RBI, 3 BB/10 SO, 17 R, 2 SB.
- Semien has hits in 23 of 24 G in May at .330/.391/.524/.916, along with a 25-G on-base streak…has also reached base via H/BB in 27-straight road games…batting .303/.378/.546/.924 (36-119) w/ 7 HR and 31 RBI in 28 G on the road in ‘23.
JUNG IS IN: Josh Jung extended his hitting streak yesterday to a career-best 11-straight games and has hits in 15 of his last 16 G at .359 (23-64)…Jung is currently T6th-longest hitting streak by a Rangers rookie, spanning seasons, in franchise history (h/t Elias Sports Bureau)…he is the 1st to do so since Andy Ibáñez had an 11-G hitting streak from 8/15-27/21…longest hitting streak by a Rangers rookie? 16-G hitting streak by Elvis Andrus from 8/28-9/14/09.
KING NATHAN: Nathan Eovaldi brings his 2.60 ERA (6th in the A.L.) to Detroit today…he has 5.0+ IP in all 10 starts in ’23, allowing 3 ER-or-less in 9 of 10 outings…he has made 7-straight QS (5-0, 1.51 ERA, 9 ER/53.2 IP, 8 BB/47 SO).
IT’S HOT OUT HERE: With day games the previous 2 days at BAL, along with a 12:10 p.m. CDT start against DET today, the Rangers finish a stretch of playing 3-straight day contests today (1-1 record)…club also played at least 3-straight day games once in ’23 (4 G, 4/5 vs. BAL and 4/7-9 at CHC)…TEX is 15-5 in day games in ‘23.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #17 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
(6-2, 2.60)
TODAY: The 33-year-old right-hander (pronounced ee-VAHL-dee) is scheduled to make his 11th appearance/start of the season in today’s Memorial Day series opener in Detroit…has gone 4-0 with a 0.86 ERA (4 ER/41.2 IP) over his last 5 starts beg. 4/29, cutting season ERA in half from 5.20 to 2.60, 6th in the A.L… has 5.0+ IP in all 10 starts, allowing 3 ER-or-less in 9 of 10 outings…has made 7 straight quality starts (5-0, 1.51 ERA, 9 ER/53.2 IP, 8 BB/47 SO) to drop season ERA from 6.32…ranks among A.L. qualifiers in HR/9 (2nd, 0.39), FIP (3rd, 2.43), wins (T4th, 6), BB/9 (4th, 1.43), IP (4th, 69.1), SO/BB (5th, 6.00), ERA (6th, 2.60)…will be working on 5 days’ rest after posting his 2nd complete game of the season Tues. at PIT (see below)…Eovaldi signed a 2-year free agent contract with the Rangers on 12/27/22…in 2022, his final season with Boston, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (47 ER/109.1 IP) over 20 G/GS…was slowed by a pair of IL stints: 6/9-7/14 (low back inflammation) and 8/19-9/28 (right shoulder inflammation)…was an All-Star with the Red Sox in 2021 and finished 4th in A.L. Cy Young Award voting…his Red Sox stint also included a historic postseason stretch during the team’s 2018 World Series run…has 250 games/231 starts with LAD (2011-12), MIA (2012-14), NYY (2015-16), TB (2018), BOS (2018-22) and TEX (2023)…joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only graduates of Alvin (TX) High School to reach the Major Leagues…Texas is 6-4 in Eovaldi’s 10 starts this season.
WHAT A RUN: Eovaldi over his last 5 starts beg. 4/29: 4-0, 0.86 ERA (4 ER/41.2 IP), 6 BB, 35 SO, 0.67 WHIP, .158 opp. BA…the only other pitchers in TEX history with at least 41.2 innings while allowing 4-or-fewer runs over a 5-start span are Charlie Hough (Aug./Sept. 1983) and Fergie Jenkins (Aug./Sept. 1974)…the last MLB pitcher with at least 41.2 IP and 4-or-fewer runs allowed over a 5-start span before Eovaldi?: LAD’s Clayton Kershaw in May 2016…last A.L. pitcher to do it?: DET’s Justin Verlander in June 2011.
- Has 66 SO and just 11 BB in 2023, just the 2nd pitcher in WSH/TEX franchise history (beg. 1961) w/ 66+ K’s and 11-or-fewer BB in his first 10 starts with the club (also Cliff Lee in 2010, 67 SO/6 BB).
- Has 7.0+ IP in career-best 5 straight starts, the longest such streak by a Texas pitcher since Lance Lynn had 5 consecutive starts w/ 7.0+ IP from 6/17-7/11/19… last longer span by a Ranger?: 6 straight by Yu Darvish, 5/9-6/11/14.
- His 7 straight quality starts, joining Martín Pérez (9 from 4/23-6/5/22) and Kyle Gibson (9 from 4/7-5/21/21) as only Rangers since start of 2020 with QS streaks as long…is longest single-season QS streak of Eovaldi’s career, 2nd-longest overall (8 straight, 9/18/12-7/12/13).
LAST START: Will pitch on extra 5 days’ rest after posting his 2nd complete game of the season Tues. at PIT, earning his 6th win of the year (9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO)…remains the only MLB pitcher with multiple CG in 2023…Eovaldi is the 1st Texas starter with multiple CG in the team’s 1st 48 contests of a season since Martín Pérez had a pair of shutouts in team’s 1st 20 G in 2014.
VS. DETROIT: Has gone 3-0, 3.81 (12 ER/28.1 IP) in 5 G/GS in career vs. DET, with his teams winning all 5 G…is 2-0, 2.25 (3 ER/12.0 IP) in 2 G/GS career at Comerica Park…only start vs. Tabby Cats in 2022 was last April, earning win w/ BOS on 4/13/22 at DET (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R-ER)…gave up solo HR to Jonathan Schoop and Akil Baddoo in that game, a 9-7 Red Sox win in 9 innings, a game which lasted 3:51.
ROAD DOG: Eovaldi has seen far better results this season in 6 starts on the road (4-1, 1.66 ERA) than in 4 starts at Globe Life Field (2-1, 4.15 ERA), ranking among ML road qualifiers in wins (T1st, 4), ERA (2nd, 1.66), innings (2nd, 43.1), opp. OPS (4th, .538), WHIP (7th, 0.90), and strikeouts (T10th, 40)…had road scoreless streak of 21.2 IP from 4/24-5/23…opponents have batted .211/.248/.289/.538 (32-152) with 7 BB/40 SO and zero HR in his away outings this season, and has most homerless innings (43.1) of any MLB pitcher on the road in 2023.
- Has compiled an 8-1 record and 2.22 ERA (25 ER/101.1 IP) over his last 16 away starts since beg. of 2022, ranking among ML pitchers (min. 15 road starts) across that span in ERA (1st), win pct. (T2nd, .889), SO/BB ratio (3rd, 6.80).
STREAKING: Posted career-best 29.2-inning scoreless streak from 4/24-5/17, the longest scoreless streak in MLB this season and T5th-longest in
Rangers history: 39.0-Kenny Rogers, 5/6-6/1/95; 36.0-Charlie Hough, 8/23- 9/14/83; 33.1-Yovani Gallardo, 6/10-7/7/15; 31.0-Rogers, 4/27-5/20/05; 29.2-Eovaldi, 4/24-5/17/23/Jeff Zimmerman, 5/25-8/2/99…marked the longest scoreless streak in MLB since ARI’s Zac Gallen had 44.1 SHO IP from 8/8-9/11/22.
- Recorded 8.0+ SHO IP in 3 straight starts from 4/29-5/6, becoming just the 3rd pitcher in TEX history with 3 consecutive outings of at least 8.0 scoreless innings: Martín Pérez (3, 4/13-23/14) and Charlie Hough (3, 8/28-9/7/83)…Eovaldi also struck out 25 batters while issuing just 3 walks over that stretch, just the 6th pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to have a 3-start span with 25.0+ SHO IP, 25+ SO, and 3-or-fewer walks (credit: STATS)…he was the first MLB pitcher to pull the trick since LAD’s Clayton Kershaw from 7/8-23/15 (26.0 SHO IP, 38 SO, 0 BB), and joined WSH’s Walter Johnson (27.0 SHO IP, 25 SO, 3 BB from 4/19-30/1913) as the only A.L. pitchers to ever accomplish the feat.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER
2023: Opponents have batted .224/.259/.344/.603 (56-250) with 20 extra-base hits (3 HR, 4 3B, 13 2B), incl. a .187 BA for LHB and .260 BA for RHP…has thrown an avg. of 97.6 pitches per outing, and has accounted for 4 of 6 G w/ 100+ pitches by TEX starters in ‘23 (4-Eovaldi, 1- Pérez/Gray)…ranks among A.L. qualifiers in HR/9 (2nd, 0.39), FIP (3rd, 2.43), wins (T4th, 6), BB/9 (4th, 1.43), IP (4th, 69.1), SO/BB (5th, 6.00), ERA (6th, 2.60)…has exited with a lead in 7 straight and 8 of 10 starts in ‘23, as 6.36 run support avg. ranks 9th among A.L. qualifiers…recorded career-high 12 strikeouts on 5/11 at OAK (8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 SO)…tossed 1st 9-inn. CG SHO of career on 4/29 vs. NYY (9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO), 1st CG SHO by a Ranger since Martín Pérez on 5/20/22 at HOU (9.0 SHO IP), and the 1st CG SHO ever thrown by a TEX pitcher at Globe Life Field…made Rangers debut in 16-3 Texas victory on 4/1 vs. PHI (W, 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R-ER)…became 5th native Texan ever to earn a win in his TEX debut.
DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:
TIGERS CLINCH SERIES WITH EXTRA-INNING
WIN: The Tigers scored a run in the ninth and 10th inning to rally for a 6-5 win over the White Sox in 10 innings. Eric Haase drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Spencer Torkelson. Akil Baddoo hit a grand slam in the win, while Zach McKinstry went 2×5 with a double. Eduardo Rodriguez started, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing one run on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Tyler Holton
worked 2.0 scoreless frames, while Alex Lange pitched a perfect 10th inning to pick up his third win of the season.
ZACH ATTACK: Zach McKinstry had a pair of hits, including a double, in yesterday’s game against the White Sox. Over his last eight games, McKinstry has reached base safely 21 times, the first Tiger to reach base that many times over an eight-game span since J.D. Martinez was on base 21 times from May 13-21, 2017. In 23 games this month, McKinstry is slashing .317/.477/.444 with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI. For the season, he has a .409 on-base percentage, which ranks second in the American League and seventh in the Majors (min. 150 plate appearances).
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers played their eighth extra inning game of the season yesterday, improving to 6-2 in those contests. Detroit’s six extra inning wins are the most in the big leagues. The Tigers also improved to 9-4 in one-run games, which is the best record by winning
percentage in the American League and third-best mark in the Majors.
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE: The Tigers drew four walks in yesterday’s game against the White Sox and finished the four-game series with 30 free
passes. Detroit has drawn four-or-more walks in eight straight games, the team’s longest streak since a nine-game stretch from April 20-29,
- For the season, the Tigers have a 9.3% walk rate, which ranks third in the American League and eighth in the Majors.
HONORING THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE: As part of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) TEAMS4TAPS program, four Tigers players will honor service members from Michigan who made the ultimate sacrifice by writing their title/rank and name on their game-used caps today. Below are the Tigers players that are participating and the service member that they are honoring. • Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Vincent J. Bell – Akil Baddoo
- Army Staff Sergeant Bryan Pitney – Riley Greene
- Army Specialist Randy Stevens – Spencer Torkelson
- Army Private First Class Christopher Sroka – Matthew Boyd
TIGERS AND RANGERS: The Tigers and Rangers begin their seven-game season series today. 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 3-1 on their current seven-game homestand, which includes four games vs. Chicago (AL) (3-1) and three games vs. Texas (May 29-31). Detroit is 13-11 at Comerica Park this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .235/.315/.370, while the pitching staff has posted a 4.36 ERA (221.0IP/107ER).
INJURY REHAB UPDATE: Kerry Carpenter continued an injury rehab assignment with Triple A Toledo last night, starting at designated hitter and going 1×3 with a run scored and a walk. 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 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)
- RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 15-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)
TODAY’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER – #48 Matthew Boyd • 3-3, 5.74 ERA (42.1IP/27ER
- Boyd will make his 10th start of the season today in the series opener vs. Texas.
- Did not factor into the decision in his last start on Wednesday at Kansas City, allowing a run on threE hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
- Has faced the Rangers nine times in his career, including eight as a starter, and has a 1-6 record with a 6.25 ERA (44.2IP/31ER) and 41 strikeouts…in 76 career outings, including 73 starts, at Comerica Park, Boyd has a 22-27 record with a 4.26 ERA (407.1IP/193ER) and 354 strikeouts.
- Missed most of the 2022 season while rehabbing from an injury, but returned in September to pitch in 10 games and help Seattle to the playoffs…went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA (13.1IP/2ER) and 13 strikeouts in his 10 outings with the Mariners.
- Is in his second stint with the Tigers…was with the organization from 2015-21, appearing in 147 games, including 143 starts, and compiling a 37-60 record with a 4.87 ERA (777.2IP/421ER) and 752 strikeouts.
