Texas Rangers (23-25) at Detroit Tigers (28-16) RHP Nick Martinez (0-1, 2.28) vs. RHP Rick Porcello (7-1, 2.91) Game #49 • Road #23 (10-12) • Sat., May 24, 2014 • Comerica Park • 3:08 p.m. CDT • FS1 / 103.3 FM / 1540 AM WINS AND LOSSES: The Rangers lost to the Tigers 7-2 last night and SURVIVOR: Rangers enter today with 39 players used this season, tied are 1-1 on this 11-game, 11-day road trip to Detroit (1-1), Minnesota (4 G), with Toronto for most in the majors…club’s 22 pitchers used (including and Washington, D.C. (3 G)…last night’s loss snapped 2-game win streak, Mitch Moreland’s outing on May 6) leads the majors, and Rangers have one of just 2 times to win consecutive games since a 3-G sweep 4/21-23 also used 9 rookies…for reference, club’s players used over the past few at OAK (also 5/8-9)…club has won 3 of 5, but has lost 6 of 9, 11 of 17, years: 2013-46; 2012-39; 2010-48; 2009-44. 16 of 24, and 17 of 26…club’s .333 (8-16) winning pct. beginning April 27 Rangers lead MLB with 13 players currently on the DL and 17 DL uses is lowest in MLB, tied w/ BOS and NYM for fewest wins in majors in that overall in 2014…longest stretch this season without a DL placement is 12 span…Tigers have MLB’s best record in that span (16-7)…Rangers were days…for reference, DL stints for Rangers past few years: 2013 - 19, 2012 last at .500 after loss on 5/13 at HOU (20-20)…have been season-low - 12, 2011 - 19, 2010 - 25. 3-under .500 twice (last after Tues. loss), this after not being 3-under since 4/23/09 (6-9)…club needs a win today to avoid falling to 3-under for a 3rd BELTRE AND TIGERS: Adrian Beltre has a .391 (43-110) average against time in 2014…team was second-high 6 games over .500 twice, last after the Tigers since the start of 2010, his highest against any opponent in that win on 4/26 (15-9). span and the best figure in MLB against Detroit in that period. STANDINGS: Rangers remain 7.0 games behind Oakland in the A.L. HIGHEST AVERAGES VS. DETROIT SINCE START OF 2010 West, sitting in 4th place…gained a game in the division with Thursday’s Minimum 70 PA’s win, which was first time to pick up ground in the A.L. West since gaining Avg. Player Team(s) H / AB a half-game with win on 5/8 vs. COL…club had not gained a full game in .391 Adrian Beltre BOS/TEX 43 / 110 the division since win on 5/2 at LAA…Rangers have been in 4th place for .382 Jose Bautista TOR 26 / 68 11 straight and 12 of the past 13 days…prior to this year, Rangers had not .371 Michael Young TEX/PHI 46 / 124 ranked as low as 4th in the division after the start of May since 5/5/08, and .361 David Ortiz BOS 39 / 108 had not seen this standing this late in a season since finishing 2007 in last .346 David DeJesus KC/OAK/CHC 28 / 81 place (4th) in the West…in fact, prior to this season, Rangers had not been anywhere other than first or 2nd in the division this late since 9/22/08 (3rd MARTINEZ SEEKING FIRST WIN: Today’s starter, Nick Martinez, makes place). his 4th major league start today, still seeking his first ML win in his 9th out- • Rangers had season-high 8.0-game deficit for 2 straight days after ing for Texas…Martinez is the only Texas starter with multiple blown saves games Tues/Wed., just 2nd time in last 11 seasons (2004-14) for Rangers behind him after exiting a start (twice), this despite just 3 starts all year… to have at least an 8.0-game deficit at such an early date (also 2007). Rangers enter today with an MLB-high 13 different pitchers with a victory in 2014, and TB (12) is only other club with more than 11. ON THE ROAD: The current season-long 11-game, 11-day road trip is one of 4 different 3-city trips for Texas this season, but only other one longer SORIA SAVES: Joakim Soria is 8-for-8 in save chances this season, and than 9 games is a 10-gamer from Aug. 25-Sept. 3…Rangers have gone opponents are 0-for-25 with no walks and 7 K’s in his 8 save tries in 2014… 10-12 on road this season, 5-8 in last 13 away contests…team’s .271 road his save on Wed. vs. SEA snapped a drought of 16 consecutive games average is 2nd-best in A.L. (BAL-.280), 22 points higher than Rangers’ without a rescue for Texas, the longest saveless streak for the team since Arlington figure (.249), but club’s 4.23 R/G on road ranks 11th in league… 16 games from Aug. 1-19, 2010. pitching staff’s 4.73 away ERA is 12th in the A.L. • Soria is 9-for-9 in save chances at Comerica Park in his career…overall against the Tigers since the start of 2008, Soria has gone 1-0 with a 0.68 ERA (2 ER/26.2 IP) in 26 G, 15-for-16 in save chances, w/ 4 BB, 32 SO, VS. DETROIT: Clubs have split first 2 meetings of the year here in the D, and will play 3 in Arlington, June 24-26 to wrap up season series…Rangers and a .188 (18-96) opp. avg. went 4-3 vs. Tabby Cats in 2013 and have taken season series in 2 straight • Soria has a club-record streak of 11 consecutive appearances with at and 3 of last 4 years…Rangers have won 7 of 11 and 9 of last 14 meetings least one strikeout and no walks. overall dating to 2012…Rangers are 13-7 vs. Tigers in reg. season since 8/4/11…Texas has won 6 of last 10 games at Comerica, taking 2 of last 5 LET’S GET SOME RUNS: Last night was the 18th time in 2014 for the series in Motown entering this weekend…Tigers lead all-time series 234- Rangers to score 2-runs-or-less (18 of 48 games, 37.5%), 3rd-most in- 219, with leads of 131-98 in Detroit and 38-28 at Comerica…Rangers also stances in the A.L. (TB-21, HOU-19) and 6th-most in MLB…Rangers’ won the 6-game 2011 ALCS vs. Tigers. curent 192 runs rank 11th in the A.L. and are the club’s fewest through 48 • Rangers are playing 8 straight vs. A.L. Central, as only games against games since 1990 (183). the division entering this stretch were 4/18-20 vs. CWS (Texas won series 2-games-to-1). DAY SHIFT: The Rangers are in the middle of a stretch in which 5 of 6 and 9 of 14 games are day contests…according to STATS Inc., this would be the first time for Texas to play 5 of 6 in daytime since April 10-16, 2011, LIFE IS NOT TV: Today’s game will be televised on FS1, with the team of Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds, and Tom Verducci in the booth, along with a span that featured 3 day games in Detroit…STATS Inc. says current Ken Rosenthal from the field…this is the Rangers’ first-ever appearance stretch (began on Sunday) would be the first time in over 30 years for on FS1. the Rangers to play 9 day games in a span of 14 contests…last time it happened was in 1984, when club played 10 day games in a span of 14 NEGRO LEAGUES WEEKEND: The Rangers will wear the uniforms of the contests from April 7-23 (credit STATS Inc.). Fort Worth Black Panthers during Saturday’s 20th annual Negro Leagues • Club is 8-5 in day games in 2014, 4-2 on the road…3 of the wins have Tribute Game in Detroit…the Fort Worth Black Panthers were founded in been shutouts…4 of Rangers’ 7 games of scoring 8+ runs have come in 1905 and played much of the time as a travel team until the 1930’s…they day tilts. were a member of several Negro Leagues during that time as well. • Rangers are slated to play consecutive night games just one time before • Prior to wearing 4 different Rangers throwbacks at 4 different home dates the next homestand, as the contests May 27-28 in Minnesota are both throughout the 2012 season, last 2 instances of wearing throwback unis night tilts. came on the following dates: 7/27-28/2002 vs. OAK (1961 Senators), and • After this road trip ends on June 1, Rangers are scheduled for just 8 more 5/4/2008 at OAK (1968 Senators). day games before the All-Star break. SNAKE EYES: Texas lost 7-2 last night and are now 0-8 this season when BASEBALL IN COOPERSTOWN TODAY: The 2014 Hall of Fame Classic scoring exactly 2 runs…team has won a pair of 1-0 games in ‘14, and has is scheduled for today at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York… a 2-8 record when scoring less than 2 runs this year…after last night, club Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, currently a has now dropped 12 consecutive games when scoring exactly 2 runs, last Special Assistant for the club, is the starting catcher for Phil Niekro’s team win being a 2-1 victory on 8/31/13 vs.