MLB Baseball Odds: Texas Rangers (9-1) vs. Detroit Tigers (3-7)

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

by Frank Martin

The Texas Rangers are not just off to an outstanding start with the bats. They also lead the league in earned run average (2.22) and have not given up a run in the last 25 innings. Texas got its second straight shutout Monday by beating the Detroit Tigers 2-0, and the Rangers will try to continue that run when they send C.J. Wilson to the mound Tuesday afternoon at Detroit.

Veteran Brad Penny goes for the Tigers, who have lost three straight. Opponents have 63 hits in 89 innings and are batting less than .200 against the Rangers.

- Texas Rangers (9-1) vs. Detroit Tigers (3-7)
When: 1:05 PM ET, Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
TV: FS-Southwest, FS-Detroit

The Tigers have opened as 140-moneyline favorites on Sportsbook.com’s Live MLB Las Vegas Odds.

Tigers RH Brad Penny (0-1, 11.17) vs. LH C.J. Wilson (1-0, 2.84). Penny has struggled in his first two starts, allowing 13 hits and walking seven in 9 2/3 innings. Penny is 1-3 against the Rangers lifetime, with a 4.74 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. Current Texas hitters have batted .340 against Penny, led by Michael Young (6-for-13) and Mike Napoli (4-for-8, three home runs).

Wilson beat 2010 Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez in his last start, giving up two earned runs in seven innings. Wilson is 0-1 against the Tigers with a 5.79 ERA in 4 2/3 innings, all in relief. The Tigers are the only American League team Wilson hasn't started against. Detroit hitters are batting only .143 (5-for-35) against Wilson.

Detroit got just what it needed Monday afternoon from starter Justin Verlander, who shut out the high-powered Rangers’ offense for six innings. But the Tigers could not take advantage and were blanked for the first time this season. Miguel Cabrera, who leads the team with a .488 on-base percentage, .382 average, four homers and nine RBIs, was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth before Victor Martinez grounded to second to end the game.

Cabrera hit his 300th career double Monday. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta is also off to good start for the Tigers, batting .344. The Tigers will need more from second baseman Will Rhymes, who is batting .182.

Josh Hamilton has quietly put together a seven-game hitting streak to push his average to .316 and his on-base percentage to .395. Hamilton has no homers, six RBIs and 15 total bases. Michael Young (5-for-12, one RBI) and Ian Kinsler (4-for-12, three RBIs) have picked it up of late, and Nelson Cruz leads the way with five homers, 10 RBIs and 25 total bases.

Mitch Moreland has also gotten off to a strong start. He is 6-for-16 since a 1-for-7 start. The Rangers have 60 runs in 10 games and have given up 26. Closer Neftali Feliz earned his fourth save Monday. He has allowed two hits and no runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez came out of the game Monday with tightness in his right Achilles tendon and is likely to miss a couple games. Ordonez has already missed games with a sore right ankle, which was surgically repaired last August.

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brad penny - c.j. wilson - comerica park - cy young award - detroit tigers - felix hernandez - ian kinsler - jhonny peralta - josh hamilton - justin verlander