Two teams that have struggled mightily to kick off this 2011 Major League season will get together for a four-game series at Tropicana Field starting this evening.
The Minnesota Twins limp in with a record of 4-7, having yet to win a series this season and having yet to string together consecutive victories. The home team, the Tampa Bay Rays, have yet to win a game in their own building, as they currently sit with a home record of 0-5.
This series will feature. . .if you can call it that. . .two of the worst offenses in baseball on the young season. The Twins have scored the fewest runs in Major League Baseball thus far, having managed just 33 runs in their first 11 contests. The Rays have the worst team batting average in the big leagues, hitting at just a .132 clip, which makes the Twins' .236 team average (good for 22nd in the majors) look almost Ruthian by comparison.
The pitching match-up for Thursday night's series opener will feature Carl Pavano (1-1, 6.00 ERA) for the Twins, and James Shields (0-1, 4.73) for Tampa Bay.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 PM Central time from Tropicana Field in Tampa.