Buck Showalter suspended four games, Vicente Padilla five (one start) and Scott Feldman six games… that does make things a little interesting.
Saturday: John Koronka (7-7) vs. Nate Robertson (11-8)
Let’s start sounding like a tongue-tied sports guy. This is the first start for Koronka since his last start in the majors (DUH!). Seriously, Koronka’s last start was on August 5th, but with everything going crazy of late, Wells out for three weeks, and Padilla pretending the batters will give him a prize if he hits them, much like an amusement park game, the Rangers are back to scrounging for players to put on the hill. Koronka was very respectable for much of the season, June 12th put his ERA over the 5 mark, but he worked it back under by the end of June. His third start of July, he got blasted by Toronto for nine earned runs over a mere 3 2/3 innings. Again, by the end of July, he had worked magic and put it under the 5 mark. Over his last seven starts, the Rangers are 4-3 but Koronka is 1-3. Still, when Koronka does well, so do the Rangers, even if it doesn’t get him the win, the Rangers still have a good chance. Nate has lost five of his last eight starts. He has also seen his ERA jump up from a great 3.14 to the 3.85 it is now. Despite all the runs and losses, he has still given Detroit a good inning filling start, going at least six innings and as much as eight during this stretch. He has seven starts against the Rangers, averaging just under seven innings during those games. His record is 3-2 and has a low WHIP of 1.13. His ERA against the Rangers is 3.19. He did pitch against the Rangers at the start of the year, he got the win of a 10-6 game where he gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Carlos Lee is 8-16 against Nate, Tex is 6-21 and the two combine for 9 RBIs and a homerun a piece. Kinsler is 2-2 with a double and a homerun (that’s a slugging percentage of 3.000!). The Rangers as a team hit .246. Koronka did start a game against Detroit where the Rangers lost 5-2 at the beginning of the season. No current Tiger has more than three at-bats against Koronka (most likely from the game earlier this season), but Shelton is 2-2 with a homerun, two RBIs, and a slugging percentage of 3.000 – not as exciting when it’s the other team). I expect a stellar game from Koronka, as he is trying once again to prove something – that he belongs on this team. Many other players are knocking on the door, but he is the one who can close the door on his spot in the rotation. Forecast: Koronka pitches an amazing game and keeps Detroit guessing most of the night, Ranger win 3-2.
Sunday: Vicente Padilla (12-7) vs. Jeremy Bonderman (11-5)
Now, there could be anyone pitching this, should Padilla be suspended. It is not definite that he will be suspended in time for this game or not, but most likely he will. It could be Robinson Tejeda or John Rheinecker. I am actually hoping it will be John Danks, but that almost seems like a pipe-dream. He most likely won’t be in a Ranger’s uniform until September, and even then it might be limited action for him pitching wise. Will Padilla appeal or take the suspension and let it be?
Saturday: John Koronka (7-7) vs. Nate Robertson (11-8)
Let’s start sounding like a tongue-tied sports guy. This is the first start for Koronka since his last start in the majors (DUH!). Seriously, Koronka’s last start was on August 5th, but with everything going crazy of late, Wells out for three weeks, and Padilla pretending the batters will give him a prize if he hits them, much like an amusement park game, the Rangers are back to scrounging for players to put on the hill. Koronka was very respectable for much of the season, June 12th put his ERA over the 5 mark, but he worked it back under by the end of June. His third start of July, he got blasted by Toronto for nine earned runs over a mere 3 2/3 innings. Again, by the end of July, he had worked magic and put it under the 5 mark. Over his last seven starts, the Rangers are 4-3 but Koronka is 1-3. Still, when Koronka does well, so do the Rangers, even if it doesn’t get him the win, the Rangers still have a good chance. Nate has lost five of his last eight starts. He has also seen his ERA jump up from a great 3.14 to the 3.85 it is now. Despite all the runs and losses, he has still given Detroit a good inning filling start, going at least six innings and as much as eight during this stretch. He has seven starts against the Rangers, averaging just under seven innings during those games. His record is 3-2 and has a low WHIP of 1.13. His ERA against the Rangers is 3.19. He did pitch against the Rangers at the start of the year, he got the win of a 10-6 game where he gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Carlos Lee is 8-16 against Nate, Tex is 6-21 and the two combine for 9 RBIs and a homerun a piece. Kinsler is 2-2 with a double and a homerun (that’s a slugging percentage of 3.000!). The Rangers as a team hit .246. Koronka did start a game against Detroit where the Rangers lost 5-2 at the beginning of the season. No current Tiger has more than three at-bats against Koronka (most likely from the game earlier this season), but Shelton is 2-2 with a homerun, two RBIs, and a slugging percentage of 3.000 – not as exciting when it’s the other team). I expect a stellar game from Koronka, as he is trying once again to prove something – that he belongs on this team. Many other players are knocking on the door, but he is the one who can close the door on his spot in the rotation. Forecast: Koronka pitches an amazing game and keeps Detroit guessing most of the night, Ranger win 3-2.
Sunday: Vicente Padilla (12-7) vs. Jeremy Bonderman (11-5)
Now, there could be anyone pitching this, should Padilla be suspended. It is not definite that he will be suspended in time for this game or not, but most likely he will. It could be Robinson Tejeda or John Rheinecker. I am actually hoping it will be John Danks, but that almost seems like a pipe-dream. He most likely won’t be in a Ranger’s uniform until September, and even then it might be limited action for him pitching wise. Will Padilla appeal or take the suspension and let it be?
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