Detroit (10-8) at Texas (7-10)

An smidge from the Newberg Report:

The Tigers have to scratch their scheduled starter hours before gametime, with a bullpen whose tensile strength was already being put to the test asked to go nine innings on the road in a nearly sold-out game against the other team’s number one starter. Each of the Rangers’ three AL West division-mates had already lost.

That’s a game you’ve got to win.

Texas backs its ace with four runs on seven hits and two walks through the first inning and two-thirds.

The remaining seven and a third against the Detroit pen: Zero runs on four hits and a walk.

Meanwhile, Scott Feldman (still fighting the effects of the stomach flu, maybe? hopefully?) gives up eight straight runs after being staked to that 4-0 lead, surrendering eight hits and four walks and a costly wild pitch in 3.2 innings. Feldman didn’t have a start in 2009 as bad as either of these last two until his 18th start of the season – at home against Detroit.

That’s a bad loss.

I can't say that I disagree with Jamey. In fact, I wholeheartedly agree with him. And yes, I am writing it off as a hangover from the flu. I feel better that way...

Porcello gets the ball Sunday in Arlington, Texas, where he’ll look to bounce back from two poor outings in his first career appearance against the Rangers. Porcello (1-1, 6.46 ERA) finds himself in a similar position in 2010. He has not reached the seventh inning in any of his three starts, and opponents are hitting .359 against him. All I can say is that I think the Rangers would love to see those numbers this afternoon. Porcello is just 1-5 with a 5.62 ERA in his last 10 starts away from Detroit.

The Tigers will face Colby Lewis (2-0, 3.12). The 30-year-old right-hander was targeting his third straight victory Tuesday, but the Rangers’ bullpen allowed four runs in a 7-6 loss at Boston. Lewis struck out five while giving up three runs and five hits in five innings. Opponents are batting .206 against him. Lewis, who had no record with a 3.00 ERA in two games for Detroit in 2006, makes his first career start against the Tigers. He pitched one inning of scoreless relief against them Sept. 2, 2007.

Question: Can Lewis put up at least five innings today? Yes. Will he, though? I think so, although there has to be a certain amount of desperation already beginning to build in the minds of the starters to hit spots and be effective. They know they can do it... but most are still considered young. Lewis isn't considered young, not at the age of 30, but he doesn't have a huge amount of MLB experience, after going to Japan for a few years. I think by midseason, if he is still in the rotation, he will be very effective, having settled into the rotation.

What about today? Lewis will be average.

Forecast: Rangers edge this out. Tigers still pound the ball, collecting 12 hits today, but the Rangers counter that with 10 hits of their own. Score 7-5, Rangers.