• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Tigers-Rangers Preview

Jul 29, 2009 - 4:56 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Detroit (52-46) at Texas (55-42), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers have struggled scoring runs recently, but fortunately for them Justin Verlander hasn't needed much support when he's been on the mound.

Verlander goes for his 12th win Wednesday when the Tigers try to avoid being swept in a three-game series by the Texas Rangers at Arlington for the first time in more than seven years.

Detroit (52-47) has a two-game lead over Minnesota and the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central, but the Tigers haven't looked like a division-leading team against Texas (56-42) this week.

After winning the first three games of a series against Chicago last weekend, Detroit has dropped three in a row, scoring just six runs. The Tigers lost 7-3 to the Rangers on Tuesday, committing three errors. Detroit took a 3-0 lead in the second, but proceeded to give up four runs in the bottom of that inning.

The Tigers fell to 4-8 since the All-Star break, and have scored more than three runs in only four of those 12 games. The top three hitters in Detroit's order (Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco and Clete Thomas) went 0 for 12 on Tuesday.

"I've got a lot of confidence in our offense," manager Jim Leyland said. "It's sputtered most of the year, to be honest with you. I still have confidence in 'em based on the track records, but at some point you've got to do it."

While Detroit hasn't had much success at quieting the Rangers, who have scored 19 runs in their last three games, the Tigers have good reason to feel optimistic about avoiding the sweep with Verlander (11-5, 3.12 ERA) on the mound.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 0.78 ERA in his last three starts. He pitched his third complete game of the season Friday against the White Sox, allowing an unearned run and six hits in the 5-1 victory.

The Tigers have won both of Verlander's starts against the Rangers this season. He is 1-0 in those outings with a 1.64 ERA over 11 innings pitched, improving to 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in his last five starts versus Texas.

Texas will try to defy that history, continue its hot hitting and win its fourth straight. Fifteen of the Rangers' 30 hits over the three-game winning streak have gone for extra bases. Elvis Andrus had three hits including a home run Tuesday, while Ian Kinsler hit a two-run triple and finished with three RBIs, though he left the game with a mildly strained left hamstring. The second baseman will be evaluated Wednesday.

The Rangers are going for their first three-game home sweep of Detroit since May 10-12, 2002, and will look to Scott Feldman (9-3, 3.59) to help make it happen. The right-hander has compiled a 2.48 ERA while winning four of his last five starts. He pitched eight innings against Kansas City last Friday, allowing four hits in a 2-0 victory.

Feldman has no career decisions against the Tigers. He has given up 10 runs in 14 innings over one start and five relief appearances versus Detroit.