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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers are in quite a groove right now, and they know it.Its an unbelievable lineup, catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. Anybody can hurt you on any given day.The Rangers (69-48) are in firm control in the American League West thanks to a recent 14-6 surge thats given Texas a 7 1/2-game cushion over Seattle and Houston in the division. Its also been six wins in the last seven games, including Fridays 8-5 victory over Detroit.The Rangers and Tigers continue their three-game set with the middle game Saturday night at Globe Life Park. Texas has beaten Detroit six straight times, with the last four coming this season.The Rangers look to make it seven in a row with ace Cole Hamels (12-3, 2.89 ERA) taking the mound for the 24th time this season. The lefty has gone 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break. Hamels is 3-1 lifetime against Detroit.Detroit (61-54) hopes to snap a five-game skid with left-hander Matt Boyd (3-2, 4.69) making his 11th start of the season. Boyd is 0-3 record with a 7.63 ERA in his career against Texas.Boyd made a relief appearance Aug. 9 at Seattle, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless inning. His last start was Aug. 6 against the New York Mets, picking up the win after giving up three runs on six hits with five strikeouts over five innings.The Tigers are in the midst of their second-longest skid of the season. Detroit is 1 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot in the American League.The ups and downs, its hard to describe for people that dont go through it, Tigers catcher James McCann said, but its something we just have to grind our way through.Texas owns the best record in the A.L. and the best 117-game mark in franchise history. The Rangers are 36-18 at home, their best start ever through 54 games.The long ball was good for the Rangers in the series opener, as Texas went deep four times. Trade-deadline pickup Jonathan Lucroy hit two homers to give him six since joining the Rangers on Aug. 1.Lucroy has earned kudos for his handling of the pitching staff in addition to his bat.He doesnt miss his pitch very often, Texas manager Jeff Banister said. For him to come in and really make an immediate impact, not only defensively but offensively, is pretty special.Texas leads the major leagues with 89 home runs since June 9.The Tigers suffered another injury before Fridays game as shortstop Jose Iglesias was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Third baseman Nick Castellanos and center fielder Cameron Maybin are also on the DL, along with starting pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Mike Pelfrey.Were backed into a little bit of a corner because of injuries, manager Brad Ausmus said. 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To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans.BEREA, Ohio -- One violent hit on Jordan Poyer was bad enough.Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor wasnt going to let his teammate take another vicious shot without striking back.Pryor blasted Tennessee running back Antonio Andrews for posting a video of the devastating hit he made on Poyer that sent Clevelands starting safety to the hospital with a lacerated kidney.Andrews delivered an illegal blindside hit during a punt return Sunday, and while Poyer was still recovering at Nashvilles Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital, he posted the video of his hit on Instagram with the caption: Relentless.Pryor said that was over the line.I love Poyer like a brother, and that really angered me, Pryor said Wednesday, adding something more colorful to convey his feelings.Pryor didnt have an issue with the hard, high hit by Andrews, who was penalized 15 yards for the infraction. He took exception to Andrews boasting about hitting a player who had no chance to defend himself.If youre going head up with a man face to face and he sees you, you see him, all right, cool, Pryor said before the Browns (0-6) practiced in advance of Sundays game at Cincinnati.But if youre a special teams guy and youre popping that stuff on there like youre some type of superhero or something just because youre hitting a guy blindsided and you think thats cool, thats where the problem comes in.So I think he should stay to his special teams and what he does and dont post stuff when a mans not looking and taking a hit like that.Andrews was mostly unremorseful, saying the video was just a post. He feels the situation has been blown out of proportion.Everybody else made it into something more than what it was, he said Wednesday following practice. It was just a good hit, (the video) showed that it wasnt a blindside, shoulder to chest. Sorry about what happened to him, to his kidney and everything, but good hit, good play.Pryor agreed the hit was within whats accepted behavior in the NFL, but feels Andrews bragging is intolerable.We put ourselves in that situation by signing the contract to play here. But the only thing that I didnt like was when the guy posted about it, bragging -- relentless. What is relentless about that? Hitting a guy, another man when hes not looking.Titans coach Mike Mularkey said he spoke to Andrews, who will likely be fined by the NFL for his personal foul.He just needs to let his play speak for himself, and stay off of social media and things like that, Mularkey said.dddddddddddd That doesnt do anybody any good, especially when a player is injured like that.Poyer, who will miss the remainder of the season, took exception to Andrews on Twitter.Buddy posted the hit to his Social Media page? Poyer wrote. Wow. Not complaining about the hit... its football.. stuff happens... but dam.. idk (I dont know) why but thats wild to me.. good for him tho.Browns coach Hue Jackson was disappointed by Andrews need to promote the hit.That is one of our players, he said. There is a code among the players in the National Football League. That young man suffered a serious injury, so I dont think that is something to celebrate.Jackson said he saw Poyer on Wednesday and gave him a big old hug.Browns Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas also felt Andrews went too far in making so much of his hit on Poyer.There should be some sensitivity involved with that type of a thing, he said. And youve got to be careful with what youre promoting because obviously when youre promoting a play that was a penalty and that got somebody hurt, maybe thats not the right thing that you want to promote for your own brand.While acknowledging the inherent violence in any game, Thomas thinks the league comes off as hypocritical when promoting player safety and showcasing fierce collisions.Thats one thing that Id like to see the NFL do is not use highlights of plays that were penalties, he said before referencing a hit Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison put on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in 2010. Massaquoi suffered a concussion on the blow to his helmet and Harrison was fined $75,000.They were using that as like the cover photo of something they were trying to sell, Thomas said. So I think its a double standard that Id like to see the NFL look at a little bit, and if theyre going to try to legislate something out of the game, they shouldnt also try to promote it from a marketing standpoint.Game notesPryor (hamstring) did not practice and CB Joe Haden (groin) continued to be sidelined after missing last weeks game.---AP freelance writer Terry McCormick in Nashville contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '