First Pitch: 7:10pm CDT
TV: FSN
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Lone Star Ball
Blackbeard is on a roll. He was an absolute beast last month, and he started off strong again in his first June start. The Rangers will represent his toughest offensive challenge in a few weeks.
Holland's season has been very up-and-down, but his last start was definitely up. He threw a complete game against the Indians, allowing no runs off five hits and a walk.His fastball is averaging 93.5mph in 2011, a full 1.5mph faster than it was last season. The extra pop has helped it become a positive value pitch for the first time in his Major League career, but his best pitch has typically been his slider. This season, the slider has been his worst pitch.
Against left-handed hitters Holland will go fastball-slider almost exclusively, while against righties he'll distribute his offerings a bit more. He likes to use that slider to run in to righties.
Rangers
Andrus, SS
Murphy, DH
Hamilton, LF
Young, 2B
Beltre, 3B
Cruz, RF
Moreland, 1B
Torrealba, C
Chavez, CF
Twins
Revere, CF
Casilla, SS
Cuddyer, RF
Morneau, DH
Young, LF
Valencia, 3B
Hughes, 1B
Rivera, C
Tolbert, 3B