Rangers @ Tigers (August 17th-20th)

[Molina00]

Projected Matchups
Game 1: Edinson Volquez vs. Kenny Rogers
6:05 PM Central on FSN/ESPN

Game 2: Kevin Millwood vs. Zach Minor
6:05 PM Central on KDFI

Game 3: Robinson Tejeda vs. Nate Robertson
6:05 PM Central on KDFI

Game 4: John Koronka vs. Jeremy Bonderman
12:05 PM Central on FSN

Game 1 Matchup Notes
Volquez: Edinson picked up his first big league win in his last start pitching 7 scoreless innings against the Mariners. He is now 1-1 with an ERA of 3.00 this season.

Rogers: One of the greatest pitchers in Ranger history will be making his 2nd start of the year against Texas. In his first on April 9th Rogers was peppered for 5 runs on 12 hits in 5.1 innings and took the loss. He is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 2 August starts so far.

Game 2 Matchup Notes
Millwood: Kevin will be taking his act on the road again where he is 7-2 with a 3.46 ERA. In his only other start against the Tigers, on April 8th, he took the loss allowing 5 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings of work. Millwood is going for his 12th win of the season, his highest win total since winning 14 with the Phillies in 2003.

Minor: The rookie is a solid 7-3 with a respectable 4.25 ERA over 13 starts this year. This will be his first career start against the Rangers. He has pitched only mediocre in August going 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in 3 starts.

Game 3 Matchup Notes
Tejeda: Not much to say about Tejeda's big league season. In 5 starts he is 1-3 with a 9.78 ERA and gave up 7 runs in 3 innings in his last start. He has been on fire in Triple A though going 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA and striking out 26 batters in just 17 1/3rd innings. He is 6-2 with a 3.15 ERA overall in Triple A this year.

Robertson: He has had a solid August despite losing 2 of his 3 starts. He has allowed 8 runs on 17 hits in 19.1 innings over that span for a solid 3.72 ERA. In an April 6th start against the Rangers he allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in 5.1 innings for the win.

Game 4 Matchup Notes
Koronka: John was demoted to Triple A on August 7th but is now being called up to replace the injured Kip Wells. He allowed 7 runs on 7 hits in 4 innings in his last start before being demoted. In his only other start against the Tigers on April 7th he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits over 5 innings for the loss.

Bonderman: The Tigers star will be making his first start against the Rangers this year. He has pitched very well in his last 2 starts, against the Twins and Red Sox, allowing just 4 runs on 15 hits over 14.2 innings.

[Molina00]

Not that Rogers, Robertson, and Bonderman are easy tasks, but the Rangers are catching a break by not having to face Verlander in this series.

[Rufio181]

Hopefully the Rangers can avoid hitting more batters.

[Molina00]

Hopefully the Rangers can avoid hitting more batters.

If Padilla is suspended then that shouldn't be a problem.
He just seems to have something for the Angels though.

[Roy31]

We need to take this series we aint getting any favors from the shitty teams Oakland has been playing. Volquez back on the mound tonight im pretty jacked about seeing him pitch again...

[Rufio181]

We need to take this series we aint getting any favors from the shitty teams Oakland has been playing. Volquez back on the mound tonight im pretty jacked about seeing him pitch again...

\

Yeah. I want to see if Eddie's last start was not a fluke and deserves to be in the rotation for good.

[Molina00]

\

Yeah. I want to see if Eddie's last start was not a fluke and deserves to be in the rotation for good.

I don't think it's a fluke. He's very well thought of so it was just a matter of showing why. The Mariners are nothing special but he still pitched a very solid game last time out. I'm looking forward to another good start in more of a pitcher's park.

[Molina00]

Kenny Rogers
vs.
Gary Matthews Jr.

Matthews grounds out to thirdbase.
Bases empty, 1 out.

[Molina00]

Kenny Rogers
vs.
Michael Young

Young singles to left-centerfield.
Runner on 1st, 1 out.

[Molina00]

Kenny Rogers
vs.
Carlos Lee

Lee pops out to secondbase.
Runner on 1st, 2 out.

[Molina00]

Kenny Rogers
vs.
Mark Teixeira

Teixeira grounds out to shortstop.
Inning over, Young stranded on 1st.

[Molina00]

Bottom of the 1st
Pitching for Texas: Edinson Volquez

Curtis Granderson: Walks to leadoff the inning. Runner on 1st, no out.
Craig Monroe: Flies out to centerfield. Matthews makes the catch. Runner on 1st, 1 out.

Gerald Laird throws out Granderson trying to steal 2nd.

Dmitri Young: Grounds out down the firstbase line. Teixeira to Volquez for the out.

Inning over.
Scoreless through 1 inning.

[Roy31]

Nice pickoff by Gerald, then the play by Tex at first was just as good.

[Molina00]

Kenny Rogers
vs.
Mark DeRosa

DeRosa pops out to shallow rightfield.
Bases empty, 1 out.

[Molina00]

Kenny Rogers
vs.
Ian Kinsler

Kinsler flies out to centerfield.
Bases empty, 2 out.