Rangers 6, Twins 2: Twins and Ober Crash Back Down to Reality

[Steven Trefz]

Image courtesy of Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober 5.0 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (86 pitches, 53 strikes (62%))
Home Runs: N/A
Bottom 3 WPA: Ober (-0.35), Royce Lewis (-0.09), Walker Jenkins (-0.06)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

Bailey Ober started his last game of the season, and while his value can't be overstated, his future still is murky after a season of lower velocity and mixed results. With the Rangers needing to win in order to stay in the running for their division crown, they counted Nathan Eovaldi in hopes of accomplishing just that. After a laugher went the home team's way Friday night, could the Twins keep ruining the Rangers party planning?

Keaschall Rakes, But Ober Breaks

Luke Keaschall has claimed the leadoff spot and run wild with it. Tonight was no different, as he launched a double to kick-off the Twins offense yet again, and he scampered home on Kody Clemens' groundout, which notched Clemens' 80th RBI of the season. With a quick start and an early 1-0 lead, the Twins handed Ober a great chance to keep the good times rolling.

Unfortunately, after Ober retired the first two men in the top of the second the wheels completely went off the rails. Nicky Lopez doubled, and then Danny Jansen worked a single out of a full count to knot the game up at one apiece. Then Ober and his 88 mph fastball and center-cut changeups gave up three straight doubles. After an inning of batting practice quality pitching, the Twins were now down 4-1.

Twins Stay Down, While Rangers Take Flight

The Twins got a walk from Keaschall and a double from Brooks Lee to put Eovaldi on the ropes in the bottom of the third. Clemens thought he had RBIs 81 and 82, but Brandon Nimmo robbed the potential extra-base hit and the threat went by the wayside. The Rangers immediately took that momentum and ran with it in the form of a Danny Jansen homer to start the fourth to make it 5-1. The top of the fifth saw another long ball from Texas, this time with Jake Burger taking advantage of Ober's slow fastball. 

Keaschall had runners at the corners with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but proved he was human with a double-play grounder to short. He proved himself superhuman with a leadoff triple in the eighth and came around to score the Twins second run of the game. But Luke can only do so much on his own, and the rest of the Twins couldn't mount a consistent effort against a desperate Rangers team. 

This 6-2 loss looked a lot like the other 84 losses so far this season. There is hope for next year, but if that hope doesn't get some help its going to be more of the same in Twins Territory. Did we see the last pitch from Taylor Rogers at Target Field tonight? Will outings like tonight help Travis Adams and Yoendrys Gomez maintain some presence in the bullpen mix in 2027? Only time will tell. Let's hope we aren't waiting until June or July to find out.

What’s Next?

The Twins finish their season with a Sunday matinee that hopefully will have playoff implications still in the mix (after the Astros and A's game Saturday night). Twins righty Dean Kremer (4-5, 4.97 ERA) looks to make a last impression in his final outing. The Rangers have all hands on deck in hopes of securing the playoffs, with their announced starter likely waiting for the result of Astros/A's. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10pm CDT either way.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	TOT
Morris	19	23	0	0	0	42
Adams	0	0	0	0	40	40
Gomez	0	24	0	0	9	33
Funderburk	13	0	0	19	0	32
Rogers	0	0	0	8	14	22
Minter	9	7	0	0	0	16
Nance	0	0	0	11	0	11

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[Parfigliano]

Ober looked awful.  Really awful.

[PuckettPond]

Ober's fastball is that of a toddler. Moving to the bullpen could add 5-7 mph. Can he throw a knuckle ball? With his arm would he win a prize at the county fair?

[Danchat]

An unfortunate outing for Ober in what could very possibly be his last game as a Twin. 

Kinda crazy how Roden is hitting .291, but he's likely not going to start next season on the major league roster. 

[SE23]

26 minutes ago, Danchat said:

An unfortunate outing for Ober in what could very possibly be his last game as a Twin. 

Kinda crazy how Roden is hitting .291, but he's likely not going to start next season on the major league roster. 

He needs to learn 1B during the winter. 

[Parfigliano]

3 minutes ago, SE23 said:

He needs to learn 1B during the winter. 

A move that will be known as....."The Reverse Gallo"

[SE23]

Just now, Parfigliano said:

A move that will be known as....."The Reverse Gallo"

😆 I like Roden. There's a decent chance he becomes an everyday player in the Big Leagues. But the Twins roster is outfielder-heavy, so he might have to find a new position. Or he might soon be part of a package trade for pitching depth.

[LastOnePicked]

Any chance Keaschall can be a starting OF and the team's hitting coach next year?

[Permanent Twins Fan]

27 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

Any chance Keaschall can be a starting OF and the team's hitting coach next year?

Nelson Cruz Hitting Coach?

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Not an ideal time for Ober to have such a rough outing. Ive (mostly) enjoyed watching him pitch for us. Outside of a possible BP role, I don't really see a fit on the team for him next season.