GameThread: Twins @ Rangers, Game 134

First Pitch: 7:05 PM AM (After Morneau)

TV: FSN

Radio: 96.3 KTWN, TIBN

Know Thine Enemy: Lone Star Ball

The Twins looked awful against Yu Darvish for 6+ innings last night. Then Chris Herrmann and Justin Morneau (*sniff sniff*) homered, and all was well again. The offense then exited for the remainder of the game, but it was still enough as the Twins took the first game against the Rangers by a score of 3-2.

Matt Garza (9-3, 3.69)

Tonight, the Twins face a familiar face in Matt Garza, who will be making his 8th start for the Rangers since coming over in a July trade with the Chicago Cubs. He's struggled a bit since the trade with a 4.44 ERA in a Rangers uniform, compared to a 3.17 ERA this year with the Cubs, but one could imagine that happening when you move from the NL to the AL and from Wrigley Field to The Ballpark in Arlington.

Garza mainly features a 4-seam and 2-seam fastball that sits in the low-90s, along with a good mid-80s slider. He also mixes in a curveball and an occasional change-up, the pitch Garza didn't want to master when he was with the Twins. According to FanGraphs, his slider is his best pitch.

Mike Pelfrey (5-10, 5.06)

Despite being fantastically mediocre, Pelfrey has continued to truck along this year, but it's hard to be labeled an "innings eater" when you're not even completing 6 innings a start. He had a difficult start last time out against the Indians when he walked 6 batters, but he escaped any real danger with allowing only 1 run by giving up only 2 hits.

Pelfrey pounds the zone with sinkers and fastballs, and he'll also mix in some splitters, cutters, and curveballs. His best pitch - if you want to call it his best - is that sinker that he'll just fire over and over again.

Rangers

1. 
   Leonys Martin, CF
2. 
   Elvis Andrus, DH
3. 
   Ian Kinsler, 2B
4. 
   Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. 
   A.J. Pierzynski, C
6. 
   Alex Rios, RF
7. 
   Mitch Moreland, 1B
8. 
   Jurickson Profar, SS
9. 
   David Murphy, LF

SP Matt Garza

Twins

1. Brian Dozier, 2B


2. Chris Herrmann, C


3. Josh Willingham, LF


4. Ryan Doumit, DH


5. Trevor Plouffe, 3B


6. Chris Colabello, 1B


7. Clete Thomas, CF


8. Darin Mastroianni, RF


9. Pedro Florimon, SS

SP Mike Pelfrey