The Rangers are 3-0 for the first time since 1996, which was the first time they made the playoffs, and they were wearing red. The best start to a season for the Rangers is 8-0. They are one of two teams undefeated currently, with the other being the Florida Marlins.
Scouting Report:Rangers: Benson will be making his first start in a Major League game since Sept. 27, 2006, when he was with the Orioles. The right-hander was signed by the Rangers at the beginning of Spring Training and ended up winning a spot in the starting rotation. He missed much of the past two seasons with a torn rotator cuff and is 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers.
Tigers: Galarraga was awarded the home-opener assignment partly as a reward for his breakout 2008 season, having led the Tigers in victories for the year. Just as important, though, is the fact that Galarraga never seems to get hyped up, a key advantage for a game that's an unofficial holiday in Detroit with an intense atmosphere. If his makeup gets him ready for it, his challenge before then is to make sure he's physically ready after having to catch up on innings after the World Baseball Classic. The fact that he'll face his old squad with a former Rangers catcher, Gerald Laird, possibly working with him is a nice bonus. He beat the Rangers last August with a quality start at Arlington.
Forecast: This Ranger team thinks they can do it all. And they can. They can pitch when they need a good out, they can hit, really pound, their competition, and they can make a key defensive play as needed. Detroit is 1-3 coming into this game. Rangers make it four in a row, 5-3.
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