Texas at Detroit

The Texas Rangers have taken a lot of the fire out of the Detroit Tigers, and it has been a one man show. Nelson Cruz has been delivering in the clutch with a hot bat. Yesterday he preserved the Rangers’ opportunity to win in extra innings by gunning down the potential winning run at the plate. The Tigers have ace Justin Verlander on the mound for an elimination Game 5. Verlander has been a lot more hittable as the innings have mounted, as he has allowed 4 runs or more just seven times this season, but six of those have come since the All-Star break. Texas will send C.J. Wilson to the mound who has allowed 2 runs or less in seven of his last eight starts, out-pitching Verlander during the stretch. So based on recent games, we have at least an equal pitching matchup, and a dog with momentum, so I'm going with Texas.