(My Sportsbook) - Kris Benson will make a long-awaited return to the major leagues when the oft-injured pitcher takes the mound for the Texas Rangers in today's opener of a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers.

It's been 2 1/2 years since Benson, the No. 1 overall selection of the 1996 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, last pitched in a big league game. The now 34-year-old hurler missed the entire 2007 season due to a torn rotator cuff and began last year with the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley, but was released in late August after going just 1-4 with a 5.52 earned run average over 11 starts.

Benson, whose last appearance in the majors came with Baltimore on September 27, 2006, did receive a minor-league contract from the Rangers in February and earned a spot in the teams rotation with a solid spring performance.

The right-hander, who owns a 68-73 lifetime record over seven seasons with Pittsburgh, the New York Mets and Baltimore, is 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA in three previous starts against the Tigers. In two prior outings at Detroits Comerica Park, Benson has allowed just three runs in 14 2/3 innings of work.

Benson will be backed by a powerful Texas lineup that put up an impressive 29 runs in the club's three-game season-opening sweep of Cleveland . On Thursday, the Rangers battered Indians pitching for 13 hits in a 12-8 victory that gave Texas its first 3-0 start since 1996, a year in which the Rangers captured the American League West title.

Marlon Byrd homered and drove in five runs in Thursday's triumph, while Ian Kinsler went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBI for Texas. Andruw Jones, making his first appearance in a Rangers uniform, also collected three hits on the afternoon.

Brandon McCarthy worked the first five innings to pick up the victory, with the right-hander surrendering three runs and striking out seven Cleveland hitters.

Detroit will be holding its 2009 home opener and is coming off a rough showing in Toronto, where the Tigers lost three of four games in its series with the Blue Jays and were dealt a 6-2 defeat in Thursdays finale.

In his major league debut, Tigers phenom Rick Porcello held Toronto scoreless over the first three innings but struggled afterward. The 20-year-old was saddled with the loss after giving up four runs on nine hits over five-plus innings.

Curtis Granderson hit a solo home run and Carlos Guillen finished 2-for-3 to lead Detroit offensively.

Armando Galarraga gets the starting nod for the Tigers this afternoon and looks to build upon a very good rookie season. The 27-year-old Venezuelan led the Detroit staff with 13 wins last year while posting a solid 3.73 ERA in 30 games (28 starts) and limiting opposing hitters to a .226 average.

Galarraga was once property of the Rangers, having made one start and two relief appearances with Texas near the end of the 2007 season. He was traded to the Tigers in February of 2008 for minor league outfielder Michael Hernandez.

The young right-hander beat his former team last August in Arlington, allowing three runs and striking out five over six innings.

Detroit won six of nine 2008 meetings with the Rangers and swept a three-game set between the teams at Comerica Park last April. Texas has lost five straight times in the Motor City.