GDT: 9/15/10 - DET (72-73) AT TEX (81-63) - 8:05 p.m. ET

As it's shaping up, Texas nearing playoff return

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com

The Rangers like the way the numbers are adding up this month.

Tuesday's 11-4 victory against the Tigers was the club's sixth in a row. The Rangers lead the American League West by nine games with 18 to play, and the team's magic number is 10.

The equation has the folks in Texas believing in a postseason appearance for the first time since 1999.

But first things first. On Wednesday, the Rangers' Colby Lewis will take the mound against Detroit's Armando Galarraga.

Galarraga plus the Tigers' offense are good enough to spoil the Rangers' good vibes -- at least for one night.

Galarraga, who had his start moved up a day to replace injured starter Rick Porcello, allowed three runs in seven innings on Friday against the O's in his last outing. He's been far from perfect away from Detroit and has struggled on the road with a 1-2 record.

As for Lewis, he snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays on Thursday. He allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings in his first win since July 16.

"I went about my business like every four days in between," Lewis said after his last outing. "I knew the mistakes I made. I mean, eight runs scored with two outs [against the Twins], I just didn't make some get-out pitches, and they took advantage of it, period."

Lewis is 2-7 with a 4.75 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break. He is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts vs. the Tigers.

"It's definitely gratifying to get double digits, for sure," Lewis said. "I just really wanted to bounce back after the two poor outings I had."

Tigers: Players are hot
Johnny Damon had a pinch-hit triple in the ninth inning Tuesday, the 99th triple of his career. He now ranks second among active players behind only Carl Crawford's 104 triples. ... Jhonny Peralta is hitting .330 with five doubles, three home runs and 22 RBIs in his last 24 games. ... Ryan Raburn is hitting .343 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 27 RBIs in his last 36 games. ... Austin Jackson has scored 25 runs in his last 24 games. ... Detroit's starting pitching has registered a quality start in 17 of its last 25 games.

Rangers: Staying on top
Michael Young recorded his 49th multihit game of the season Tuesday, extending his club record with career multihit game No. 537. ... The Rangers have held a lead between seven and 10 games in the AL West for 50 straight days. The last time the division lead was fewer than seven games was July 24. They have had sole possession of the top spot in the division for 98 days. ... The Rangers have a club-record 160 infield hits this season.

Worth noting
The Rangers have been breaking even since the All-Star break. The club is 7-5 in September and 13-14 since Aug. 16. Moreover, the Rangers are 25-24 since July 21. They have played well at home, and the club has won four straight and nine of its past games 10 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers are 16-7 in Arlington since the All-Star break.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Armando Galarraga (4-5, 3.89 ERA)
Armando Galarraga had his start moved up a day so the Tigers can start him Wednesday in place of the injured Rick Porcello. Galarraga allowed three runs in seven innings in a start Friday vs. the O's. He has struggled on the road with a 1-2 record.

RANGERS: RHP Colby Lewis (10-12, 3.86 ERA)
Lewis snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays on Thursday, allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings. He is 2-7 with a 4.75 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break. He is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts vs. the Tigers.




INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Zach Miner (Partial tear in right elbow, 60-day DL on March 26, Had successful Tommy John surgery May 28, Out for Season),
• LHP Bobby Seay (Torn rotator cuff, 60-day DL on March 26, surgery on September 15, Out for Season),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25, Had surgery surgery Aug. 25, Out for Season),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4, Out for Season),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29, Underwent elbow surgery July 12, Out for Season).
• Carlos Guillen (Bruised left knee, 15-day DL on August 23, Out for Season)


Out for Season



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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Thursday, September 16,
OFF DAY

• Friday, September 17,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (10-10, 3.60 ERA)) AT WHITE SOX (RHP Edwin Jackson (3-1, 2.94 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Saturday, September 18,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (16-8, 3.48 ERA)) AT WHITE SOX (RHP Freddy Garcia (11-6, 4.88 ERA)), 4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .302
Rhymes, 2B .299
Damon, DH .272
Cabrera, M, 1B .333
Raburn, LF .268
Boesch, RF .262
Peralta, J, SS .252
Inge, 3B .252
Avila, C .212
Totals .269

Texas AVG
Andrus, SS .275
Young, M, 3B .289
Murphy, Dv, LF .288
Guerrero, DH .305
Cruz, N, RF .312
Kinsler, 2B .296
Moreland, 1B .255
Molina, B, C .236
Borbon, CF .274
Totals .277