Nathan Eovaldi (8-7, 3.95 ERA) gets the home start against Framber Valdez (4-5, 4.05 ERA) at 7:05 PM CT in Arlington. Eovaldi is pitching the best ball of his season right now — 7 shutout innings and 9 strikeouts against Toronto in his last outing, his 3rd consecutive win. Valdez has been quietly solid through most of June, but his last start was a different story: 9 hits and 4 earned runs across 6 innings against the Astros.
The Tigers arrive carrying real momentum. Detroit just swept the Yankees 3 straight in New York — the franchise's first series sweep of New York since 2008 — scoring 7, 9, and 6 runs in the process. The offense has been clicking as a unit all series, and it's not just a fluke: Detroit has now won 3 of its last 5 despite a depleted roster missing key names like Gleyber Torres (oblique), Javier Baez (ankle), and Parker Meadows (forearm).
Texas has the better record at 44-43, but the Rangers are short on bodies right now. Corey Seager hit the 10-day IL for the 3rd time this season Wednesday with lower-back inflammation — he didn't make it through his pregame routine before Tuesday's Cleveland game, and the Rangers moved him immediately. Wyatt Langford is already out with a hamstring injury through the All-Star break, Brandon Nimmo is day-to-day with a shoulder issue, and Cody Freeman is also on the IL with a herniated disc. A lineup built around Seager's bat keeps losing Seager's bat.
- Day-To-DayJosue Briceno C — Briceno said Friday that he expects to be sidelined a few months after having surgery Wednesday to repair a tendon in his right wrist, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- 10-Day-ILGleyber Torres 2B — Torres (oblique) received a cortisone injection Friday and is expected to start up his rehab program in the next day or two, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 15-Day-ILWill Vest RP — The Tigers placed Vest on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with posterior right elbow inflammation.
- developmental listMatt Seelinger RP
- 60-Day-ILJackson Jobe SP — Jobe (elbow) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 60-Day-ILWenceel Perez RF — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Perez won't require surgery for the left orbital fracture he sustained June 16, but the outfielder lacks a clear timeline for a return, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. "It's not, from what I understand, where it's going to be something long term," Hinch said of Perez's injury. "But it doesn't mean it heals itself fast. He's feeling better and better and reporting progress."
- 60-Day-ILParker Meadows CF — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Meadows (forearm) has yet to resume hitting and is without a timeline to return from the 60-day injured list, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- 60-Day-ILBurch Smith RP — The Tigers transferred Smith (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Nimmo RF — Nimmo (shoulder) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
- Day-To-DaySebastian Walcott SS — Walcott (elbow) will begin to ramp up his activity soon and is still on track for a late-July or early-August return to a minor-league affiliate, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILCorey Seager SS — The Rangers placed Seager on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to lower-back inflammation.
- 10-Day-ILWyatt Langford LF — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Sunday that Langford (hamstring) will remain on the 10-day injured list through the All-Star break, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILCody Freeman 3B — The Rangers placed Freeman on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a herniated disc.
- 10-Day-ILDanny Jansen C — Jansen (forearm) was able to throw out to 60 feet Saturday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — Martin (shoulder) was sent to Double-A Frisco on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment.
- 15-Day-ILJack Leiter SP — Leiter underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body from his right ankle region Tuesday and should be considered out indefinitely, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Detroit is depleted, but on a real hot streak. Texas is more talented on paper, but playing shorthanded again. Eovaldi is the clearest advantage either team can point to Thursday — a locked-in veteran at home is a legitimate edge in a game this close to a pick 'em. The Rangers dropped a 9-4 decision to Cleveland on July 1 to snap a 4-game win streak, so they come in needing a reset. Eovaldi at full strength is exactly the right guy to provide one. First pitch is 7:05 PM CT.