Series preview: Twins at Texas
June 18, 2021 at 12:04AM
All games on BSN, 830-AM
Friday, 7:05 p.m.: RHP Jose Berríos (7-2, 3.49 ERA) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (1-7, 5.48)
Saturday, 3:05 p.m.: RHP Randy Dobnak (1-6, 8.38) vs. LHP Kolby Allard (2-2, 2.91)
Sunday, 1:35 p.m.: RHP Kenta Maeda (2-2, 5.01) vs. RHP Dane Dunning (2-5, 4.57)
Twins update
This will be the Twins' first visit to the Rangers' new ballpark, which opened last year, when Texas only played teams from the AL and NL West during its 60-game schedule. … The Twins' injury parade continued when 3B Josh Donaldson (calf) and SS Andrelton Simmons (ankle) left Wednesday's victory at Seattle. CF Byron Buxton (hip), RF Max Kepler (hamstring) and C Mitch Garver (groin) are on the injured list. … DH Nelson Cruz has reached base in 12 consecutive games by hitting .390 with four HR. … The Twins are second in MLB in homers with 99, four behind Toronto entering Thursday. Twins pitchers have given up 102 home runs, second most in baseball. … The Twins haven't listed a Saturday starter, but Dobnak didn't pitch against the Mariners and seems a likely candidate.
Rangers update
After losing 16 of its past 19 games, Texas joins the Twins as two of the five MLB teams with a winning percentage below .400. … The Rangers come home after losing 19 of the past 20 on the road, including 16 in a row, which isn't even the longest active road losing streak in the majors because of the Diamondbacks' MLB-record 23-game slide. … Foltynewicz is winless in his past eight starts. … The Rangers pitching staff has a 5.31 ERA over the past 29 games. … CF Adolis Garcia leads the team with 16 HR and 46 RBI. … Ex-Twins RHP Kyle Gibson (4-0, 2.09 ERA in 13 starts) is the only MLB player who is unbeaten with more than 10 starts, but he won't pitch in this series. … LF David Dahl (ribs) is out.
Chris Miller
about the writer
The eight Twins headed for arbitration are Royce Lewis, Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran, Bailey Ober, Ryan Jeffers, Willi Castro, Griffin Jax and Trevor Larnach.
