Game Thread: Rangers @ Twins, 8/19/22, 7:10pm CDT

[bighat]

Howdy, y’all. Tonight the Minnesota Twins (61-55) and Texas Rangers (53-65) kick off the “I-35 Series” at Target Field. That’s right, these two teams are separated by just 14 hours and 922 miles of good ol’ American concrete. The drive takes a leisurely 14 hours from Target Field to Globe Life Stadium, all the way down Interstate 35 door-to-door. 

Since we’re talking about freeways, let’s take a look at what’s under construction tonight in Twins Territory. Minnesota sends hardhat-wearing, lunchpail-carrying Dylan Bundy (6-5, 4.76 ERA) to the mound. He’s earned plenty of criticism but he’s been showing up for work every 5th day which you’ve got to respect. The guy throws strikes and works quickly - in fact Bundy has the 59th-fastest “tempo” in MLB, averaging a pitch every 15.8 seconds. The Rangers counter with staff foreman Martin Perez (9-3, 2.79), who - as Twins fans may remember - tends to work slower than a cement truck in the rain. Perez is more of a nibbler, and is ranked 218th in MLB with 18.6 seconds between pitches. With men on base Perez is even slower, taking 26.8 seconds between pitches. Yeesh. To wrap up today’s theme, some good news: Tyler Mahle’s arm is NOT under construction - at least not yet - he’s listed as day-to-day and Twins fans continue to hold their breath. 

The Twins last played the Rangers back on July 8-10. The team played very uninspired baseball, as the bullpen imploded and gave away the first two winnable games before the team salvaged the finale to go 1-2 in Arlington. That series marked the beginning of a run that saw Minnesota go 11-17 over the next month, falling out of first place in the process. 

Picks to Click: Jose Miranda has a .722 xSLG rating at home against lefties, and also leads the Twins with a .884 wOBA when playing under those circumstances. A good old-fashioned hunch tells me disappointing Twins shortstop Carlos Correa might just go yard today. 

Scoreboard watching: Oh me oh my. The Cleveland Guardians hosting the Chicago White Sox tonight. It’s Lance Lynn vs. Triston McKenzie. 

Odds: Twins -141, Rangers +120

Weather: Brisk temps, possibly in the high 60s or low 70s at game time with intermittent shower activity. System appears to be slow-moving, which is troublesome. 

Lineups: 

1. Byron Buxton (R) CF

2. Carlos Correa (R) SS

3. Luis Arraez (L) 1B

4. Jose Miranda (R) DH

5. Gio Urshela (R) 3B

6. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B

7. Gilberto Celestino (R) LF

8. Max Kepler (L) RF

9. Sandy Leon (S) C

P. Bundy

 

1. Marcus Semien (R) 2B

2. Corey Seager (L) SS

3. Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B

4. Adolis Garcia (R) RF

5. Jonah Heim (S) C

6. Leody Taveras (S) CF

7. Brad Miller (L) DH

8. Josh H. Smith (L) 3B

9. Bubba Thompson (R) LF

P. Perez

 

Play Ball!

[operation mindcrime]

What channel is this on?

[mnfireman]

9 minutes ago, operation mindcrime said:

What channel is this on?

Apple TV+

 

[stringer bell]

Lineups:

 

 

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
M. Semien2B	111-475	58	18	19	.234
C. SeagerSS	110-436	60	26	3	.252
N. Lowe1B	123-426	52	17	2	.289
A. GarciaRF	114-449	74	19	18	.254
J. HeimC	79-308	43	13	2	.256
L. TaverasCF	53-178	27	3	6	.298
B. MillerDH	42-205	29	7	4	.205
J. Smith3B	32-145	12	1	3	.221
B. ThompsonLF	12-46	5	0	4	.261

 

 

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
B. BuxtonCF	75-331	51	28	5	.227
C. CorreaSS	95-349	39	14	0	.272
L. Arraez1B	132-394	38	6	4	.335
J. MirandaDH	78-273	51	12	1	.286
G. Urshela3B	90-338	49	11	0	.266
J. Polanco2B	82-349	55	15	3	.235
G. CelestinoLF	50-189	13	2	0	.265
M. KeplerRF	74-326	41	9	3	.227
S. LeonC	6-33	4	0	0	.182

 

Pitchers:

PLAYER	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	H	K	BB	HR
M. Perez	9-3	2.79	1.20	142.0	124	125	46	9
D. Bundy	6-5	4.76	1.26	98.1	103	75	21	15

•  

[Otto von Ballpark]

Apple TV+ games are still free, no subscription required — just download the Apple TV+ app.

https://www.mlb.com/news/how-to-watch-rangers-twins-on-apple-tv-august-19-2022

The video quality on Apple TV+ seems better than Bally/MLBTV too.

EDIT TO ADD: link to watch in browser (have to sign in with your Apple ID) https://tv.apple.com/us/sporting-event/texas-rangers-at-minnesota-twins/umc.cse.ehsepxjehliysupx0hex9qqv

[twinssporto]

Miranda goes crazy tonight. Correa goes crazy at the plate too...

Huge output from these two tonight! Bet on it. Trust me....

[BH67]

I love Gainesville and the UF campus, bighat.  But after my years in Tallahassee, the tomahawk chop is firmly inscribed in my DNA when late November rolls around.

[stringer bell]

Buxton in and playing center field. Polanco back. Pérez has been good this year, but he always seems to be on the edge of a meltdown. IIRC, the Twins put up a big inning against him, but the Rangers rallied to win the game. 
 

Bundy needs to keep the ball in the park against these guys. 
 

It’s raining where I live, but no rain in the forecast for Minneapolis. 

[operation mindcrime]

1 hour ago, mnfireman said:

Apple TV+

 

Thanks man!!!!! \m/

[operation mindcrime]

23 minutes ago, twinssporto said:

Miranda goes crazy tonight. Correa goes crazy at the plate too...

Huge output from these two tonight! Bet on it. Trust me....

I like your optimism!!!! You've got me fired up for the game!!!!

[Vanimal46]

I’ve taken this trip on I-35 several times. The most enjoyable part of the concrete is the Kansas Turnpike. I’ll always appreciate a state that wants you to get out of there as quickly as possible. Speed limit of 75 most of the way and if you’re not driving close to 95, someone’s going to pass you. Most likely me! 

[BH67]

10 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’ve taken this trip on I-35 several times. The most enjoyable part of the concrete is the Kansas Turnpike. I’ll always appreciate a state that wants you to get out of there as quickly as possible. Speed limit of 75 most of the way and if you’re not driving close to 95, someone’s going to pass you. Most likely me! 

The stretch between Emporia and Wichita begs for 100 mph, and there's usually very light traffic in daytime.

[Vanimal46]

1 minute ago, BH67 said:

The stretch between Emporia and Wichita begs for 100 mph, and there's usually very light traffic in daytime.

Absolutely. I loved it when I had a partner in crime driving on that stretch of road with me and we have a mutual understanding that going 100 MPH is accepted. Same thing applies in Northern Texas too. From Dallas to the border of Oklahoma if you’re not driving 90+ MPH you’re a burden on the road. 

[Mortimerkenny21]

18 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’ve taken this trip on I-35 several times. The most enjoyable part of the concrete is the Kansas Turnpike. I’ll always appreciate a state that wants you to get out of there as quickly as possible. Speed limit of 75 most of the way and if you’re not driving close to 95, someone’s going to pass you. Most likely me! 

Used to drive it twice a year when I was stationed in SW O.K. for about a 6 year period. That stretch south of Emporia is the least amount of trees I've ever seen anywhere!

[mrtwinsfan]

Apple on the mind tonight ,Apple Schnapps only 2 shots-  Game on Apple and Apple Pie + ice cream for Desert  Go Twins!!!!!

[bighat]

50 minutes ago, BH67 said:

I love Gainesville and the UF campus, bighat.  But after my years in Tallahassee, the tomahawk chop is firmly inscribed in my DNA when late November rolls around.

Wow, a rare fellow human who has actually been to Gainesville. Yeah man, I live about 3 miles from Ben Hill Griffin. We live right on the East Side, almost downtown. Moved here with the wife 1.5 years ago, so far so good. 

I respect FSU but as you can imagine I gotta side with my Gators down here. In fact, being a Gator fan keeps things simple for me. Up north I'm both a Gopher and a Badger fan - always feel torn in half! 

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, Mortimerkenny21 said:

Used to drive it twice a year when I was stationed in SW O.K. for about a 6 year period. That stretch south of Emporia is the least amount of trees I've ever seen anywhere!

Oklahoma was another state I’d try to drive through quickly, way above speed limit. The last time I drove through it, I was vibing with a Chevy Corvette who was also making their way through the state at 90+ MPH. We’d occasionally pass each other when traffic got in the way. However, when we got close to OK City, a sheriff was waiting in a blind spot on the highway. It was them or me. I saw the lights turn on, and the Corvette was slightly ahead of me. The Corvette passed the exit, and I had split seconds to hit that exit. I did, sat on the exit road for 2-3 minutes, and saw the sheriff pull over the Corvette as I drove by. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

If you don't want to download the app, here's a link to watch the game on Apple TV+ in a web browser (have to sign in with your Apple ID):

https://tv.apple.com/us/sporting-event/texas-rangers-at-minnesota-twins/umc.cse.ehsepxjehliysupx0hex9qqv

[h2oface]

Time for payback against Perez for how horrible he performed for our Twins!

[Vanimal46]

The video quality on Apple TV+ is great. Commentary, not so much. 

[Mortimerkenny21]

I'm going to Sunday's game, hopefully by then we will be 3 out 4 with the Rangers. First game since 2019!

[Vanimal46]

Wasn’t sure if tonight’s game would be played earlier today. But now the sun is shining and I’m taking my dog for a long walk. 

[Craig Arko]

This may be the only time all year I root for the Pale Hose. 

[lecroy24fan]

18 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

If you don't want to download the app, here's a link to watch the game on Apple TV+ in a web browser (have to sign in with your Apple ID):

https://tv.apple.com/us/sporting-event/texas-rangers-at-minnesota-twins/umc.cse.ehsepxjehliysupx0hex9qqv

I can't watch on my phone because it is way too small and when you don't have an Apple ID you have to find another way to watch. Might have been smarter to go tonight instead of tomorrow but no way I was passing up an opportunity to have Rod Carew talk baseball in person,.

[lecroy24fan]

2 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Wasn’t sure if tonight’s game would be played earlier today. But now the sun is shining and I’m taking my dog for a long walk. 

There are potential storms to the west but the game will get played for sure. 

[Vanimal46]

3 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

There are potential storms to the west but the game will get played for sure. 

As long as they stay west which the radar indicates they will. 

[wsnydes]

9 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

The video quality on Apple TV+ is great. Commentary, not so much. 

Twins on the TV, vinyl on the turntable it is!

[stringer bell]

14 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

The video quality on Apple TV+ is great. Commentary, not so much. 

I kind of like hearing a national perspective. I’ll give the play-by-play a chance. 

[mrtwinsfan]

3 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I kind of like hearing a national perspective. I’ll give the play-by-play a chance. 

Already like them more than Youtube, 

[lecroy24fan]

3 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I kind of like hearing a national perspective. I’ll give the play-by-play a chance. 

They've done the other games the Twins have been on there and they are brutal. B-R-U-T-A-L