Series Thread: Rangers Travel to St. Pete to Take on the Rays September 16-18

[saddles]

Texas Rangers (62-81, third in the AL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (80-63, third in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Martin Perez (11-6, 2.77 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 156 strikeouts); Rays: Corey Kluber (10-8, 4.36 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 122 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays, on a three-game home winning streak, host the Texas Rangers.

Tampa Bay has gone 47-24 in home games and 80-63 overall. The Rays have a 38-12 record in games when they did not allow a home run.

Texas is 32-40 in road games and 62-81 overall. The Rangers are 44-14 in games when they out-hit their opponents.

Friday's game is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The season series is tied 2-2.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yandy Diaz has a .294 batting average to rank sixth on the Rays, and has 32 doubles and nine home runs. Randy Arozarena is 13-for-41 with a home run and eight RBI over the past 10 games.

Marcus Semien has 23 home runs, 47 walks and 75 RBI while hitting .247 for the Rangers. Nate Lowe is 14-for-39 with two doubles, a home run and two RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 5-5, .251 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored by three runs

Rangers: 4-6, .231 batting average, 4.81 ERA, outscored by six runs

INJURIES: Rays: Brandon Lowe: 10-Day IL (back), Brendan McKay: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ryan Thompson: 15-Day IL (tricep), Roman Quinn: 10-Day IL (knee), Shane Baz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kevin Kiermaier: 60-Day IL (hip), Mike Zunino: 60-Day IL (shoulder), J.P. Feyereisen: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Andrew Kittredge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Glasnow: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Rangers: Brad Miller: 10-Day IL (hip), Josh Sborz: 60-Day IL (right elbow), Joe Barlow: 15-Day IL (finger), Spencer Howard: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jon Gray: 15-Day IL (side), Mitch Garver: 60-Day IL (forearm), Eli White: 60-Day IL (wrist)

 

[saddles]

From Scott Lucas:

Blaine Crim went 5-5. Only two balls were hit in excess of 74 MPH, but they all count. (Sometimes Statcast is a spoilsport.) In any case, the performance serves to remind that Crim is actually a fairly well-rounded hitter, not an all-or-nothing type. His career professional batting average is .308.

 

[Kelleyman]

If we can score a good amount on them this will show us better proof of our hitter development and if our lineup is legit

 

[saddles]

I have decided to update my Rangers Top 30 Prospects list. There are some new guys to add since i last did one of these. Some are new to the organization and some are simply new to the list. Others have been promoted off of the list because of how much they have played this year. That includes guys like Bubba Thompson, Josh Smith, and Ezequiel Duran. Here is my rather sketchy list.

1. Jung

2. Carter

3. Leiter

4. White

5. Foscue

6. Zavala

7. Winn

8. Harris

9. Englert

10. Crim

11. Roby

12. Acuna

13. Porter

14. Vanasco

15. Morrobel

16. Garcia, R.

17. Rocker

18. Bratt

19. Gutierrez

20. Ragans

21. Kent

22. Bradford

23. Wendzel

24. Figuereo

25. Saggase

26. Ornelas

27. Hauver

28. Acker

29. Osuna

30. Kindreich


Below are some honorable mentions. There have been times in the past that I had a hard time coming up with enough guys to make it to 30. This year there are 6 guys left over that I would have liked to have added.

Acosta, Teodo, Specht, Rodriguez, Stephan, Cueva

 

[Kelleyman]

From Scott Lucas:

Blaine Crim went 5-5. Only two balls were hit in excess of 74 MPH, but they all count. (Sometimes Statcast is a spoilsport.) In any case, the performance serves to remind that Crim is actually a fairly well-rounded hitter, not an all-or-nothing type. His career professional batting average is .308.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[DT LUNA]

Crim should mentor Calhoun. lol

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Evan's latest top 30 prospects.

Jung
Carter
Leiter
White
Acuna
Zavala
Rocker
Porter
Foscue
Harris
Winn
Ragans
Guitterez
Morrobel
Saggese
Bratt
Roby
Kent
Vanasco
Figuereo
Acker
Kelly
Cueva
Englert
Osuna
Teodo
Acosta
Ornelas
Bradford
Stephan

 

[Kelleyman]

Evan's latest top 30 prospects.

Jung
Carter
Leiter
White
Acuna
Zavala
Rocker
Porter
Foscue
Harris
Winn
Ragans
Guitterez
Morrobel
Saggese
Bratt
Roby
Kent
Vanasco
Figuereo
Acker
Kelly
Cueva
Englert
Osuna
Teodo
Acosta
Ornelas
Bradford
Stephan

Where’s Crim?

Looks like the tail wags the dog to me

 

[DT LUNA]

Where’s Crim?

Looks like the tail wags the dog to me

EG does wag the dog at times.

 

[scotsman1948]

that's good

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[scotsman1948]

will be interested in how Rocker does

 

[scotsman1948]

i will also follow what Acuna does in Arizona

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Bradford, Kent, Englert and Crim have all made convincing cases to put them on the 40 man this offseason, or we will risk losing them.

 

[saddles]

Jeff Wilson seems to think Kyle Cody will come up after Round Rock's season is over and pitch a couple of times out of the bullpen.

 

[scotsman1948]

Jeff Wilson seems to think Kyle Cody will come up after Round Rock's season is over and pitch a couple of times out of the bullpen.

good