92.5%
That’s the current number for the Rangers on the ESPN poll of who will win tonight’s game.
The Rangers are one of the hottest teams in baseball right now, having won 11 of their last 14. They just completed a 4-game sweep of Cleveland (thank you very much). We all know the Rangers can score runs, but what was really impressive against Cleveland was the pitching: Texas held the Indians to 6 runs total over the 4 games.
Max Scherzer will have his work cut out for him against the Rangers in hitter-friendly Arlington, especially coming off two consecutive shaky starts. Colby Lewis looks to continue the Ranger streak of good pitching, himself coming back from 8 innings of 4-hit shutout pitching against the Rays.
So the Tigers have their work cut out for them tonight. But 92.5%? C’mon.
In other news, Purcey returns from paternitizing, and Andy Oliver has been sent back to the mud. Scott Sizemore has been called up to the Oakland A’s, as a 3rd-baseman. And still no Magglio.
Today’s Player of the Pre-Game: Andy Dirks
Texas hitters will keep Andy busy in the outfield; Dirks had 2 2-strike hits in yesterday’s game, which should be a confidence-builder.
Today’s Return-of-the-H-Factor Lineup:
- Austin Jackson CF
- Don Kelly 3B
- Brennan Boesch RF
- Miguel Cabrera 1B
- Victor Martinez DH
- Andy Dirks LF
- Jhonny Peralta SS
- Alex Avila C
- Ryan Raburn 2B
Comments
41 responses to “Game 2011.59: Tigers at Rangers”
Because they are playing during the middle of the week, this is the first Tigers v. Rangers series in Arlington that I have missed in years. I hope Kevin in Dallas is there representing us well….no Mags in the pregame line up?
Family stuff/Mavs have me in the same boat OTFiM.
Maggs is still with Mudhens
Rats…Maggs in Toledo, Kevin with the Mav, me in Vicksburg and the river is high…who we gonna call??? Boesch busters!!!
BTW, the last Tiger v. Ranger series was Boesch debute when he came to the plate and hit the first pitch in the right field gap for a double. I recall asking my brother, what was that guy’s name for the scorecard?
Completely unimportant and unrelated side note: I was in NYC a few weekends ago and I went to the apartment building where they battle the giant marshmallow man. I was psyched
Boesch answers the call! Post of the game goes to OTFiM!
Rangers have been nearly unbeatable since Hamilton and Cruz returned to the lineup. I’m pretty sure that 11-3 record reflects that timespan.
Tough loss last night. I was pulling for you guys.
Signed,
the rest of America
Bosh Baesch!
Bonderman pitching for Texas?
Lewis was a Tiger briefly some years ago, I think. Maybe…..
JLwas an accomplice on KBurn there for calling a hit and run on 0-1.
Bosh Baesch 2.0
They are going to start pitching around Boesch to get to Cabrera
The Dirkster! He wasn’t Player of the Pregame for nothing!
Humor from Uncle Smokey in the dugout. That was great.
For anyone who didn’t see it, Leyland stuck a piece of his gum on Lloyd’s elbow and didn’t say anything until Lloyd noticed it.
Dirks Doink.
And they’ll have to start pitchinng around Dirks to get to Peralta.
I would take a .275/ 20 HR/ 75 BI line from a Tiger catcher.
Wow. Those aren’t cheapies.
Twins helping out vs CLE also; up 6-3 in the 8th.
Okay Scherzer…you have a 7 run lead, figure your stuff out and don’t blow this lead.
Looks like we might have Bad Max going again tonight.
Dirks Doh!
So, what happened? That triple wasn’t Scherzer’s fault? Man I miss watching games live on TV…
I didn’t see it either, but am guessing he must have “rayburned” it.
Dirks dove for it but came up short, it went by him all the way to the fence
Boesch is on a roll tonight.
9 to 2 in the 4th?? Dare I say clown show or just a good old fashion beating?
We’re just taking advantage of the Launching Pad at Arlington (with an assist from some Lewis lobs).
We might need all 9 runs
Perhaps I was premature with the clown show sighting?
Man….what is going on with Max? He just can’t finish batters off. It’s only a matter of time before he gets dropped from my fantasy team if he keeps this nonsense up.
It’s only a matter of time before Enrique Gonzalez gets up in the bullpen, which is even more disturbing.
Don’t say that…please don’t say that…
Phew, it’s The Furby
Ah, Mr. Leland … a call to the pen may be in order?
Back to Toledo?
It worked last time….he just looks awful.
Max has stabilized a bit, we may not see the Furby
92.5% of ESPN’ers are fools.