Yovani Gallardo brings out the best in the Texas Rangers’ hitters. Good thing for him he is on their side.
Gallardo has enjoyed unusually strong run support since returning to the majors after a two-month stint with Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers averaged 11 runs per game in his three June starts Adidas Jonathan Quick Jersey , including an 11-3 thumping of the Chicago White Sox on Friday when they blasted five home runs.
Gallardo hopes he will continue to be a good luck charm when he starts the opener of a four-game series against the Tigers in Detroit on Thursday night.
“This is what they do,” Gallardo told MLB.com and other reporters afterward. “This is the kind of offense we have here. It definitely makes it easier, but yet it is one of those things where you can’t allow it to get out of hand as well. You’ve just got to keep it tight in the strike zone and get some quick outs.”
Gallardo (2-0, 9.00 ERA) didn’t require an offensive explosion from his team against the White Sox, as he delivered his best outing of the season. He tossed 7 1/3 innings on just 90 pitches, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out seven.
“He was in control the whole time,” Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos told MLB.com. “I think he built from that last outing (5 1/3 innings) in Minnesota. It was the same thing; he’s throwing really well.”
Gallardo, who was released by Cincinnati in April, is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers, but he has not faced them since 2015.
He’ll be opposed by left-hander Matthew Boyd (4-6, 4.18) Evander Kane Sharks Jersey , one of several Detroit pitchers who could be dealt this season.
Boyd has gone winless in his last four starts, though his last start was a quality outing at Toronto. He gave up three runs on four hits over six innings and posted seven strikeouts, his highest total since May 17.
The Rangers have given Boyd fits in the past. He is 1-4 with a 5.53 ERA in five career starts against them. Chirinos has homered twice against Boyd in seven career at-bats.
Detroit will try to bounce back from two road losses to the streaking Chicago Cubs, who have won six straight. The Tigers lost 5-2 on Wednesday, and manager Ron Gardenhire had to depart to the clubhouse early due to heat exhaustion. He is expected to be back in the Tigers dugout on Thursday.
“It’s frustrating to be right there, to be so close,” catcher James McCann told MLB.com. “But at the end of the day, that’s not reflected in your win-loss column. It’s either a win or a loss. We came up short two games in a row.”
The Tigers have lost 13 of their last 15 games, but they do have a hot hitter in Nicholas Castellanos, who has hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games. Castellanos smacked a solo homer and walked twice on Wednesday.
Texas’ Shin-Soo Choo has been swinging an even hotter bat. Choo has reached base in 44 consecutive games after getting two hits, including a homer Adidas Eric Staal Jersey , on Wednesday. The Rangers will have a quick turnaround after losing at home in extra innings to Houston 5-4 in that game.
Carson Wentz sat in the stands and soaked in the experience while his teammates on the Philadelphia Eagles took part in Super Bowl media night.
A torn ACL ended the MVP contender’s season, but he’s doing everything he can to be supportive and help the team beat the New England Patriots.
“I don’t know anyone more competitive than myself,” Wentz said Monday night. “Wanting to be out there is definitely tough, but I get over that pretty quick and just be around these guys and things are going as well as they can be.”
Wentz spoke for about 25 minutes, answering questions about his injury, backup Nick Foles, and several queries about his faith.
“I’m super excited for these guys and for Nick. We’re so close,” he said. “He understands the pressure of not only playing in this game but playing in Philly and everything that’s involved in that. I just tell him to be yourself, play your game and when he’s done that, he’s played great. I couldn’t be happier for his success. He’s a great guy.”
Wentz didn’t want to take any spotlight off his teammates or be a distraction, but the second-year pro plans to be part of many Super Bowl weeks Adidas Shea Weber Jersey , so he thought it was important to see it up close.
“I’m going to use this as a learning opportunity and motivation,” he said. “Being here and seeing this all week, it’ll give me an edge to want to be back without a doubt.”
Wentz revealed last week that he tore his LCL along with his ACL in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams. He’s already walking without crutches or a cane – he was on crutches on the sideline in the divisional round against Atlanta, then used a cane while watching the NFC championship game against Minnesota – and hopes to be ready for the season opener in September.
“Ever since he went down, I don’t think he hasn’t been a part of every element of the team, coaching and working with Nick,” owner Jeffery Lurie said. “That’s just who he is. He’s someone drawn to being great, really bright and humble at the same time … and a great leader at age 24 who is incredibly popular.”
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AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner contributed to this report.