On Deck will be here all season to provide you with everything you need to know (and a few things you don't) about every Rangers series during the 2015 season.
The Opponent: The Tigers have totally mailed things in this season, which was evidenced by the way they sold all their assets at the trade deadline, and they're now in last place in the AL Central and have lost two straight at home to Minnesota.
Past 2015 Meetings: The Rangers are 3-1 this season against the Tigers, winning a four-game series in Detroit back in August.
Pitching Matchups: Monday -- Colby Lewis (17-8, 4.36 ERA) vs. Justin Verlander (4-8, 3.49); Tuesday -- Cole Hamels (5-1, 3.41) vs. Daniel Norris (1-1, 3.90); Wednesday -- Yovani Gallardo (12-11, 3.42) vs. Matt Boyd (1-3, 5.81)
What's Hot: Mike Napoli continues to hit lefties, and over his past three games is hitting .444 for the Rangers. Shin-Soo Choo continues to roll to second-half MVP honors with a .348 average over his last six games to go with two homers and eight RBIs. Adrian Beltre, who's batting .333 over the same span, also has eight RBIs in the six games. Cole Hamels allowed one run in six innings last time out, one outing after fanning 12 and walking none in seven scoreless innings against the Mariners.
Nick Castellanos has been a man over the last week, and really for a good stretch of the season's second half. In his last six games, he's batting .435 with four doubles and two RBIs. In that same time, Rajai Davis is hitting .417 with a homer and three RBIs. Daniel Norris tossed five no-hit innings his last time out before exiting the game.
What's Not: Josh Hamilton has five at-bats in his last two games -- his first two games back from knee surgery -- and just one hit (a single) to show for it. But the news here is that he's back and he was able to play an entire game in left field on Saturday afternoon and reported no pain afterward. That's a good sign.
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Former Ranger Ian Kinsler is hitting just .200 over his last seven games and has six strikeouts in that time. Victor Martinez is hitting .227 over that same time, but does at least have one home run.
Familiar Faces: In a rare star-for-star trade, the Rangers and Tigers swapped veteran starters Prince Fielder and Ian Kinsler prior to the 2014 season, and after an early lead in the clubhouse for the Tigers on the deal, it appears the pendulum has swung back in the Rangers' favor this season. Tigers closer Neftali Feliz was once the Rangers' closer and AL Rookie of the Year before losing his job to Shawn Tolleson in May and being designated for assignment.
