Analysis:Texas Rangers (M. Perez) at Detroit Tigers (Simon) 7:05 ET
The Texas Rangers visit the Detroit Tigers in the first of a 4-game weekend set. Though Detroit had great success in winning a pair vs. the red hot Cubs the last 2 nights (scoring 25 runs on 40 hits at Wrigley Field), Detroit is a team who is going nowhere at 58-61. They are 3 ½ games behind Baltimore for the final playoff spot with Texas, Tampa Bay and Minnesota to overcome before reaching a playoff invitation. Conversely, Texas has played themselves into the post-season picture with a recent run of 18-9. They actually have a better road record at 33-28 than Detroit does at home (28-30). Texas trails Baltimore by only a single game for the final Wild Card position.
Detroit is a team who appeared in the post-season 4 consecutive years. Though still in contention in late July, they cleaned house at the trade deadline. They traded current ace, David Price, to Toronto and shipped top reliever, Soria, to Pittsburgh. Along with the loss of Scherzer (to Washington) and the ineffective performance of former ace, Verlander, then GM Dombrowski decided to cut bait and play for the future. That prompted HIS dismissal (quickly signed to the same position with Boston on Tuesday). Tonight, Detroit sends a struggling Simon to the mound. In 10 recent outings, Simon has an 8.19 ERA. That includes his 3 most recent outings in which he has a 7.27 ERA. In those contests, he has been negatively impacted by a strained groin muscle. In short, he is not at 100%. In those recent 3 outings, he has recorded 4 strikeouts while issuing 8 walks in 17 1/3 IP. That is a sure indicator of his physical problems. Eight relief appearances against Texas by Simon have resulted in a 5.54 ERA.
Far prefer the resurgent Texas Rangers. This has been a streaky team all year. Since June 20th, their streaks have been 6-18, 11-4, 1-4 and now 6-1, a run in which they have averaged 5.9 RPG. Tonight’s starter, Perez, struggled in his initial outings after time spent on the DL. But, he has returned to form nicely with a 2.21 ERA.
With the Rangers again motivated by post-season opportunity and Perez in far better form than the injured Simon, we look for the Rangers at an EVEN money price to get the victory in Motown this evening.
Pick Made: Aug 20 2015 11:15AM PST