Rangers need this today

May 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Colby Lewis (48) hands the ball over to manager Ron Washington (38) during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit – The Texas Rangers will finish up a 4-game series today against the Detroit Tigers with right-handed pitcher Colby Lewis on the mound.

After about a stretch of 10 games of some really bad baseball, the Rangers are starting to look better again.  Before the Detroit Tigers series the Rangers went 3-7, didn’t win a series and were out scored by 27-43.  The offense was barely able to scratch out 2 runs per game.

Looking back for the month the Rangers have only been able to win just one series this month.  The only series they have won this month was back on May 2-4 against the Los Angeles Angels.  That series win had a similar story to it.  The Rangers were able to pick up one win in a low scoring game, dropped a game when the opposing team scored more than 4 and finished the series with a blow out win.

For most games this season, they all seem to fit that pattern.  They Rangers pitchers will do well and the offense will barely score any runs, but still manage to win, the pitchers struggle and the offense can’t over come 3 or more runs.  The Rangers are 3 and 27 when the opposing team scores 4 or more.  Also, when the Rangers do win, they win big or they shutout the opponent.  The Rangers have a league leading 9 shutouts.

Today, the Texas Rangers need to change some of those trends.  They need to find a way to win, especially if they get behind 4 or more.  Also, they need to win to mark their second series win for the month.  Baseball is a long season with a lot of games.  Winning every game isn’t possible, sometimes streaks are hard to do also, but as long as team is able to win series they’ll be in the hunt at the end of the season.

So far this season the Oakland Athletics haven’t given the Rangers very much room in the division for error.  But recently the have dropped 3 games and the Rangers need to pull off a good road trip to keep up or catch up in the division if they want to stay as contenders in the division.

Today will be a tough one, Lewis didn’t have his best outing last time and Justin Verlander is always tough to beat, but the Rangers have been playing better lately.  But, if there is ever a time they need a win, today is the day.