Wow... did they get hammered on Friday, or what? 15-2... YUCK!
The Rangers hope to bounce back when they face Justin Verlander (0-1, 19.64 ERA), who struggled in his first start of the season after a dismal 2008.
Verlander, who lost a career-high 17 games last season, lasted only 3 2-3 innings Monday against Toronto, allowing eight runs and eight hits in a 12-5 loss.
“I’m always somebody who’s going to try to take away positives,” Verlander said. “I know tonight that I had good stuff and made pitches that I wanted for the most part. Just, some things got compounded and it ended up not looking very good.”
The right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA in five career starts against the Rangers. He beat them last season at home, yielding one run and six hits over six innings of a 10-2 victory.
Matt Harrison (9-3, 5.49) make his season debut for Texas.
Harrison set a record for wins by a Rangers rookie left-hander last season after being called up from the minors in July. He was 4-1 with a 4.70 ERA in five road starts.
This will be the 23-year-old’s first appearance against the Tigers.
Verlander, who lost a career-high 17 games last season, lasted only 3 2-3 innings Monday against Toronto, allowing eight runs and eight hits in a 12-5 loss.
“I’m always somebody who’s going to try to take away positives,” Verlander said. “I know tonight that I had good stuff and made pitches that I wanted for the most part. Just, some things got compounded and it ended up not looking very good.”
The right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA in five career starts against the Rangers. He beat them last season at home, yielding one run and six hits over six innings of a 10-2 victory.
Matt Harrison (9-3, 5.49) make his season debut for Texas.
Harrison set a record for wins by a Rangers rookie left-hander last season after being called up from the minors in July. He was 4-1 with a 4.70 ERA in five road starts.
This will be the 23-year-old’s first appearance against the Tigers.
Scouting Report:Rangers: Harrison was a nine-game winner for the Rangers in 2008, the most number of wins by a rookie left-hander in club history. His .750 winning percentage was the third highest in club history for a pitcher with at least 10 decisions. He did not pitch against the Tigers last year. He was 5-2 with a 5.94 ERA in 10 starts at home. He was 6-3 with a 3.43 ERA in 15 Minor League starts, giving him 15 wins on the season.
Tigers: All the adjustments Verlander made in Spring Training didn't help him once a two-out walk to Alex Rios set up a four-run first inning on Opening Day in Toronto before four more runs chased him in the fourth. The eight earned runs tied Verlander's career high from his rookie season of 2006, but he feels comfortable that the changes he made are sticking. He made a point to throw breaking balls early and often the first time through the Jays order, and he caught himself losing command of his fastball before settling down in the second and third innings.
Forecast: Rangers will pound Verlander. POUND HIM. That's the forecast. Rangers win this one, Harrison pitches well, going into the seventh inning. Score will look like 10-3, Rangers.Home Plate
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