The Rangers head back to Texas to celebrate Pudge Rodriguez’ retirement, and the Seattle Mariners drop into the D for a 3-game set against the 10-6 Tigers.
The Rangers series may not have been as bad as it sometimes seemed: The Rangers bombed the Tigers in the first game of the series, but after a bad 1st inning in the second game, the Tigers played them even, only giving up 6 earned runs over the last 28 innings against the best hitting team in the majors, and were a couple of bad throws and maybe a blown call from splitting the series.
Still there is a nagging feeling left by the team’s inability to score runs, or even advance runners. This vaunted Detroit offense has now dropped to 12th in the AL for team OPS (.695, above only Seattle and Oakland). And it isn’t just the Raburn-Inge effect: the Tiger 3-6 hitters are only 10th best in the AL. Detroit may not need many runs to beat Seattle (see above), but if the offensive struggles continue, let the nail-biting commence.
Tonight we will see Max Scherzer (or is it Max Scherzer?) try to tame the tepid Mariner bats, while Jason Vargas does the same for the M’s.
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Tonight’s random note: The Braves have demoted Jair Jurrjens (0-2, 9.37) to the minors.
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Today’s Player of the Pre-game: Brennan Boesch
Boesch has been one of the real struggling bats so far this season, putting up Inge-like numbers (.212 BA, .538 OPS), including an OPS of .000 in 4 PA with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 out (2 Ks). But Boesch hit his 1st HR of the year Sunday night, and has hit Vargas well over his career (6-9 with 2 2B). Look for Boesch to continue to break out tonight.
Today’s Rabinging Lineup:
- Austin Jackson CF
- Brennan Boesch RF
- Miguel Cabrera DH
- Prince Fielder 1B
- Delmon Young DH
- Jhonny Peralta SS
- Alex Avila C
- Ryan Raburn LF
- Brandon Inge 2B
Original Story:
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April 23, 2012
