The series is up for grabs between AL Central rivals in the final game of a three-game set at U.S. Cellular Field.
Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox
Detroit picked up a 3-2 comeback victory on Saturday night over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field and giving the team a chance to end a streak of 10 straight road series losses. The win in the second game of the series was also just the club’s second win in 15 road games. “I’ve been around this game long enough to know we’ve got to start putting something together,” Brandon Inge said. The offense is led by 1B Miguel Cabrera in games away from Comerica Park, as he is leading the American League with a .345 road batting average. The Tigers are now 19-26 against division opponents this season and the total stands at an even 21-21 O/U in those contests. The club is a dismal 6-16 on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 in 2010 and 36-58 in this situation over the last three years (-2,100).
Tampa Bay was nearly no-hit in a 1-0 road loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon and have managed to hit for a combined .149 average in dropping five straight games. This recent skid is the club’s longest losing streak of the season, after the team had gone 10-1 in their previous 11 games. “I was beginning to think no-hitters were commonplace,” said third baseman Evan Longoria. “It seems like we’ve been a part of and watched so many this year.” Rays outfielder Carl Crawford returned to the lineup yesterday after two days of rest, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Tampa is 7-3 in Monday games this season (+340) and 27-19 on this day the past three years (+620). The Rays are also a dominating 34-17 against teams with losing records in 2010 (+410).
Detroit has lost 13 of its last 16 games and has fallen into third place in the AL Central race. “We’re in emergency mode,” manager Jim Leyland said after Thursday’s loss in Tampa. “When I say that, I’m saying we just have to fight our tails off every day.” This three-game series at Fenway will cap an 11-game stretch against the AL East foes for the club. The Tigers are currently 2-6 in that span and 10-8 against the division this season. Detroit may find itself as a +225 to +250 road underdog for just the second time in three years, while they are a dismal 16-33 overall away from Comerica Park (-1,750). The team has lost 22 of its last 30 games in Boston and has dropped 10 straight overall on the road.
Texas has won 13 of its last 16 games on the road and snapped an 11-game losing streak in Detroit with an 8-6 victory. Outfielder Nelson Cruz’s 14th inning home run allowed the Rangers to win their fourth in five games and extend their lead to five games in the AL West. The club is 7-9 in July (-1,100), but still carry the league’s third-best overall record and fifth in the Majors. Despite Monday’s victory, it’s important to note the team has still been outscored 90-35 in its last 12 games at Comerica Park. The Rangers have been a road favorite of -125 to -150 just seven times this season (4-3, Even) and 15 times over the last three years (8-7, -130).
