FIRST PITCH:
135p CentralTHE TUBE: Twins.TV, presented by Progressive
THE WAVES (ENGLISH): WCCO 830 AM, KMNB 102.9 FM, Cory & Danny Baseball Network, Audacy Application
LAS ONDAS (ESPAÑOL): LosTwins.com
KNOW THE FOE: Lone Star Ball
After a scheduled off-day mid-series due to SAH-KER, the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers will tangle once more in Texas – where Bob Wills is still the king – with the Twins looking for the series sweep. Minnesota has swept a series twice this campaign: once early in April
at home against the Detroit Tigers and another time at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. Matt didn’t get to utilize his talent of writing lyrics yesterday, so I seriously considered doing that with Bob Wills songs, but I couldn’t do it justice. I hope the thought counts.
Texas will trot out Jack Leiter for his fifteenth start this year. It’s been a bumpy road for the right-hander this season, sporting a 4.86 ERA/4.53 FIP in 76 innings of work. His last two outings – one each against the Red Sox and the Cleveland Spiders – resulted in a combined 11 runs (nine earned) in 9.2 innings of work, including 13 hits, five walks, only five strikeouts, and three homers. He’ll be looking to get in the win column again. Hits and homers per nine innings are up compared to last year for Captain Jack. He will not take you home tonight.
Minnesota will counter with Joe Ryan. He may take you home tonight. I don’t know. But I do know he’s been pretty awesome this year for the Twins. The Twins have won five of his last seven games he’s started, and the two losses were by only one run in low-scoring affairs. The keys to the game are 1) for Ryan to go as deep as he can so the bullpen can’t screw it up later in the game and 2) for the offense that showed up on Tuesday night to be in attendance and do the same thing today.
Victor Caratini resumes catching duties after being considered “day-to-day” with neck stiffness this week.
Grab your saltine crackers and shake a leg, spread out wide, grab your partner, GO TWIMS GO.
