Rangers at Tigers
The Texas Rangers will try to match their longest winning streak of the season when they cap a three-game series at the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. A 4-1 victory in Wednesday's matchup ran the Rangers' streak to four in a row, gave them a 6-0-3 mark in their last nine series and left the club at 27-14 since the middle of May.
Willie Calhoun homered, doubled twice and scored twice in the win while extending his hitting streak to seven games and Mike Minor went the distance on the mound for Texas, which has also won 11 of its last 17 on the road. The Tigers are sliding in the other direction with six straight losses and 10 in their last 11 games, and they are a woeful 11-26 at home. Detroit seeks a rare victory in Motown behind Spencer Turnbull, who opposes fellow right-hander Ariel Jurado for the Rangers in the finale. Brandon Dixon smacked a solo shot for Detroit's lone run in Wednesday's loss, his fifth home run in his last 13 games.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (4-3, 4.44 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (3-7, 3.29)
Jurado gave up four runs and six hits in six innings against the Chicago White Sox on Friday, leaving his ERA in four June starts at 7.29. He has allowed 28 hits -- four home runs -- in 21 innings during that span and opponents are hitting .280 on the season against the Panama native. Jurado, who is facing Detroit for the first time, has a 5.61 ERA in 15 career starts.
Turnbull's last two starts came against Cleveland and he suffered the loss both times, first giving up six runs in five innings and then allowing two runs in five frames. The 26-year-old has been reached for 18 runs in 19 innings over his last four home starts and is 0-5 in nine career starts at Comerica Park. Turnbull will be making his first appearance against the Rangers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers SS Elvis Andrus has exactly two hits in six of his last seven games.
2. The Tigers recalled 3B Jeimer Candelario from Triple-A Toledo and optioned 3B Dawel Lugo to Toledo.
3. Detroit is 1-10 against American League West opponents.