April 21, 2022 - Game 12
Television and Radio Listings for Today's Game
Rangers TV: Bally Sports Southwest
Rangers Radio: 105.3 The Fan (English); KFLC 1270 (Spanish)
Mariners TV: Root Sports Northwest
Mariners Radio: KIRO 97.3
National: MLB Network (in select markets)
Overview
Taylor Hearn takes the bump in Seattle Thursday against the Seattle Mariners’ Marco Gonzales. The Rangers are desperate for a good pitching performance, and Taylor Hearn seems like the guy to take on that role. Hearn’s two starts this season resulted in so-so outings. He’s pitched 7.2 total innings and allowed four runs. The downside is that Hearn allowed fourteen hits, but the key isn’t strikeouts for Taylor. Instead, Hearn talked about the key is having the batter put the ball in play, especially with groundballs. So now Taylor will get an opportunity to start a game in Seattle for the first time since the disastrous Major League Debut, where he left the game due to injury in the first after allowing five runs/four earned in a third of an inning.
The Rangers offense will take on the veteran Marco Gonzales. Gonzales’ last outing was a good one against the Houston Astros. He pitched seven innings, allowed one run, four hits, no walks, and struck out six against a formidable Astros lineup. His first start didn’t go well, but a costly error in the first inning assisted with a five-run first by the Minnesota Twins. Gonzales only struck out one while walking two in his first outing of 2022. The Rangers have hit the ball hard in the series, especially yesterday, but the bad luck string is hurting Texas. The Rangers are trying to avoid becoming the first American League team to reach ten losses and the second MLB team (Cincinnati Reds). There comes a point where a spark is needed, and tonight may be the night.
Pregame Notables
Jon Gray hits the injured list with a low-grade MCL tear. Glenn Otto will make Friday's start against the Oakland Athletics.
Thursday will be Taylor Hearn’s first start in Seattle since his Major League Debut. His two starts against Seattle in 2021 came in Arlington. Hearn made six appearances in Seattle since 2019 but hadn’t made a start.
Taylor Hearn has a 4.81 ERA against the Mariners with thirteen walks in the past two seasons. His 24.2 innings against Seattle are the most against any MLB team.
Thursday will be Marco Gonzales’s seventeenth start lifetime against the Rangers. It’s the second most against any opponent (eighteen starts against the Angels).
Gonzales allowed nine runs last season against Texas yet, yielded four home runs against the Rangers.
With Wednesday’s loss, the Rangers dropped their first four series to begin 2022. It’s the first time they’ve dropped the first four series since 2004.
The Rangers made their Arlington Stadium debut fifty years ago today (April 21st, 1972). They beat the California Angels 7-6.
Adolis García is averaging a 94.9 MPH exit velocity which ranks second among MLB qualifiers (Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees is averaging a 97.1 MPH exit velocity).
Hearn’s road and home splits are nearly even, with a 4.73 ERA at home and 4.86 ERA on the road. However, Taylor allowed fourteen home runs on the road instead of five at home and walked seven more away from Arlington than at home.
Lineups
