Texas Rangers (23-24) at Detroit Tigers (27-16) RHP Scott Baker (0-0, 3.38) vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez (1-2, 2.89) Game #48 • Road #22 (10-11) • Fri., May 23, 2014 • Comerica Park • 6:08 p.m. CDT • TXA21 / 103.3 FM / 1540 AM WINS AND LOSSES: The Rangers beat the Tigers 9-2 yesterday and are FIELDER TO DL, MURPHY OFF DL: The Rangers announced this after- 1-0 on this 11-game, 11-day road trip to Detroit (1-0), Minnesota (4 G), and noon that the club has placed 1B Prince Fielder on the 15-day disabled Washington, D.C. (3 G)…club has won 2 straight, 2nd time since a 3-G list, retro to May 17, with a herniated disc in his neck…club also recalled sweep 4/21-23 at OAK for Rangers to win 2 straight (also 5/8-9)…seeking INF Donnie Murphy from his injury rehab assignment and activated him first 3-G win streak since that sweep of the A’s…club has won 3 of 4 for first for tonight’s game…this is Fielder’s first career DL placement, as he had time since taking 4 of 5 from 4/21-26…have lost 5 of 8, 10 of 16, 15 of 23, appeared in at least 157 games for 8 consecutive seasons from 2006-13… and 16 of 25…club’s .348 (8-15) winning pct. beginning April 27 is lowest had played in 547 consecutive games before the neck injury, which had in MLB, tied w/ NYM for fewest wins in majors in that span…Tigers have been the longest active streak in the major leagues. MLB’s best record in that span (15-7)…Rangers were last at .500 after loss on 5/13 at HOU (20-20), seeking to get back there with a win tonight… EVERYBODY HURTS: The Rangers lead MLB with 13 players currently on Rangers have been season-low 3-under .500 twice (last after Tues. loss), the DL and 17 DL uses overall in 2014 (including Fielder)…longest stretch this after not being 3-under since 4/23/09 (6-9)…team was second-high 6 this season without a DL placement is 12 days…for reference, DL stints for games over .500 twice, last after win on 4/26 (15-9). Rangers past few years: 2013 - 19, 2012 - 12, 2011 - 19, 2010 - 25. DISABLED LIST PLACEMENT HIGHS IN 2014, MLB STANDINGS: Rangers gained a game in the division with yesterday’s win Includes today’s Fielder/Murphy transaction, but no transactions for other clubs (now 7.0 GB), first time to pick up ground in the A.L. West since gaining Current Team Season Team a half-game with win on 5/8 vs. COL…club had not gained a full game in 13 Texas 17 Texas the division since win on 5/2 at LAA…Rangers have been in 4th place for 8 Washington 13 Cincinnati 10 straight and 11 of the past 12 days…prior to this year, Rangers had not 6 7 teams tied 11 Washington ranked as low as 4th in the division after the start of May since 5/5/08, and 10 CWS/LAD/NYY had not seen this standing this late in a season since finishing 2007 in last place (4th) in the West…in fact, prior to this season, Rangers had not been MANY PLAYERS USED: The Rangers enter tonight with an MLB-high 39 anywhere other than first or 2nd in the division this late since 9/22/08 (3rd players used this season, and club’s 22 pitchers used also tops the ma- place). jors…pitchers total includes Mitch Moreland’s outing on May 6 in Denver… • Rangers had season-high 8.0-game deficit for 2 straight days after club has also used 9 rookies, T4th-most in MLB…for reference, club’s play- games Tues/Wed., just 2nd time in last 11 seasons (2004-14) for Rangers ers used over the past few years: 2013-46; 2012-39; 2010-48; 2009-44. to have at least an 8.0-game deficit at such an early date (also 2007). MOST PLAYERS, PITCHERS, AND ROOKIES USED IN 2014, MLB Credit Elias Sports Bureau ON THE ROAD: The current season-long 11-game, 11-day road trip is one Players Team Pitchers Team Rookies Team of 4 different 3-city trips for Texas this season, but only other one longer 39 TEX 22 TEX 11 NYY 38 NYY 21 NYY 10 CWS than 9 games is a 10-gamer from Aug. 25-Sept. 3…Rangers have gone 38 TOR 20 CWS 10 LAA 10-11 on road this season, 5-7 in last 12 away contests…team’s .273 road 37 LAA 20 HOU 9 TEX average is 2nd-best in A.L. (BAL-.280), 24 points higher than Rangers’ 37 CLE 19 LAD 9 ARI Arlington figure (.249), but club’s 4.33 R/G on road ranks 11th in league… 36 NYM 19 TOR pitching staff’s 4.59 away ERA is 12th in the A.L. TANNER SCHEPPERS will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday w/ Frisco (AA) Frisco - vs. Springfield at 7:05 CDT, throwing 1.0 inning…will VS. DETROIT: Rangers took first meeting of season yesterday, as clubs likely be transferred to Round Rock after that outing. play 4 in Motown this weekend and 3 in Arlington, June 24-26 to wrap up season series…Rangers went 4-3 vs. Tabby Cats in 2013 and have taken YU CAN DO IT: Yu Darvish has now won each of his first 5 career starts season series in 2 straight and 3 of last 4 years…Rangers have won 7 of against the Tigers…according to baseball-reference.com, it matches lon- 10 and 9 of last 13 meetings overall dating to 2012…Rangers are 13-6 gest career-opening streak by any pitcher in the last 50 years…others vs. Tigers in reg. season since 8/4/11…Texas has won 6 of last 9 games in that span to win first 5 starts vs. DET: Scott Erickson (1990-91), Scott at Comerica, taking 2 of last 5 series in Motown entering this weekend… Sanderson (1990-91), Kevin Appier (1990-92), and Joel Pineiro (2001-03). Tigers lead all-time series 233-219, with leads of 130-98 in Detroit and 37-28 at Comerica…Rangers also won the 6-game 2011 ALCS vs. Tigers. CHRIS GIMENEZ had a career-high 4 hits yesterday, just 2nd 4-hit effort • Rangers are playing 8 straight vs. A.L. Central, as only games against by a Ranger this season (also Elvis Andrus, 5/9 vs. BOS)…it was the first the division entering this stretch were 4/18-20 vs. CWS (Texas won series road 4-hit game by a Ranger since Craig Gentry on 9/19/13 at TB, first Tex- 2-games-to-1). as catcher w/ 4+ hits since A.J. Pierzynski on 8/19/13 vs. HOU…a Texas catcher had not posted 4 hits on the road since Mike Napoli on 9/7/11 at TB. • Gimenez posted 4 hits in his 2nd career game with the Rangers…ac- I’LL BE AROUND: The Rangers sent 9 men to the plate in a 4-run 4th inning yesterday, the 2nd consecutive game to bat around in an inning cording to STATS Inc., the last Ranger with a 4-hit game within his first (also 1st inning on Wed. vs. SEA)…prior to the past 2 games, the Texas 2 games with Texas was Danny Thompson, who went 4-for-4 in his 2nd offense had batted around 3 times all season, none since 5/4 at LAA (9th game w/ the club on 6/4/76 vs. DET at Arlington Stadium…Tom Grieve inn.)…Rangers had not batted around in such close proximity (either back- went 1-for-3 w/ 2 BB in that 14-3 Texas win. to-back games or twice in same game) since 2 instances on 8/17/13 vs. SHIN-SOO CHOO has homered in consecutive games and now has a SEA (2nd and 8th innings). team-high 6 HR this season…he hit HR in at least 2 straight on 2 occa- • Yesterday’s 9 runs were 5th-most for the Rangers in a game this season, sions in 2013, including HR in career-best 3 in a row from April 4-6, 2013… while 14 hits were T3rd-most…club was 4-for-13 with RISP yesterday, just Choo was the first Ranger to 6 HR, in team game no. 47…the only other the 3rd time in the last 30 games to have at least 4 hits w/ RISP (also 4/27 seasons in which Texas went 46 games into a campaign without having a at SEA and 5/4 at LAA)…yesterday was also 2nd time in last 30 G to score 6-HR player were 1972 and 1982. at least 9 runs. • Choo also walked twice yesterday, as he has reached safely 3+ times in 14 G, tied with Jose Bautista for most such games in A.L. and T3rd-most LARGE IN THE MARGIN: Yesterday’s 7-run win marked the 4th time this in MLB behind Troy Tulowitzki (15) and Andrew McCutchen (15)…Choo season for Texas to win by 7+ runs, club’s 2nd-largest road victory in 2014 leads MLB w/ 60 such games since start of 2013 (Votto ranks 2nd-57).