Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers Game 157 Preview, TV, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (73-83) at Texas Rangers (84-72) — 8:05 PM ET

Globe Life Park — Arlington, TX

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather: 87 degrees, sunny

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When We Last Met

Lo and behold the Detroit Tigers can score runs when their ace is on the mound. In what is usually a rare occurrence since Justin Verlander came back off the DL in early June, the Tigers gave him some run support–seven runs in fact and that was more than J.V. needed dodging jams and hits to hold the Texas Rangers to one run, on a Prince Fielder home run. The former Tiger also batted in three more runs after Verlander departed as Texas made it closer in the 7-4 Tigers win.

The loss was particularly costly for Texas who have now lost three straight. Couple that with the Houston Astros winning three straight and the Rangers lead in the AL West is down to 1.5 games.

Pitching Matchup 

Daniel Norris (2-2, 3.88) was perfect in his last start for the Detroit Tigers. That’s right, he threw a perfect game in his last outing, but because it came in just his second start after coming back from the disabled list, he was logically on a pitch count and departed after five perfect innings against the Chicago White Sox. He struck out four in the sparkling effort and has been sharp in two starts since coming back, allowing just one run in 8.2 innings.

The Tigers get another crack at Cole Hamels (11-8, 3.56) who has been a major catalyst at putting the Rangers in a position for a divisional title by going 5-1 with a 3.41 ERA in 10 starts with Texas since being traded by the Philadelphia Phillies on July 31.  In just his second career start versus Detroit (1-1, 2.77) on Aug. 23, he held the bats to just two runs, scattering eight hits in six innings of work.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

After leaving the game with an injury on Monday night, Victor Martinez will sit out. The lineup also features a rare start at catcher for Bryan Holaday.

1. Rajai Davis-LF
2. Ian Kinsler-2B
3. Miguel Cabrera-DH
4. J.D. Martinez-RF
5. Nick Castellanos-3B
6. Jefry Marte-1B
7. Dixon Machado-SS
8. Bryan Holaday-C
9. Anthony Gose-CF

Injuries

• Victor Martinez — Day-to-Day
• Jose Iglesias — Day-to-Day
• Anibal Sanchez –Out for the Season
• Joe Nathan — Out for the Season

Next: Final MCB TigerTalk Podcast for 2015