This is going to be a crucial stretch for the Minnesota Twins (69-65, first in the AL Central) who are heading to Texas (75-58, third in the AL West) for another big series this weekend. The Twins have a 5-game lead as they enter the final month of the season.
Game time in Arlington, Texas is Friday, 7:05 p.m. with pregame on AM 830 WCCO Radio and 102.9 FM at 6:30.
The Twins might have a lead over the Guardians, but the teams have a huge three-game series in Cleveland starting Monday that will go a long way towards deciding the division.
The Twins and Guardians are coming off a three-game set in Minneapolis earlier this week with Cleveland taking two of three thanks to Minnesota's bullpen giving up a 9th-inning lead Wednesday afternoon. A wild pitch scored a run for Cleveland to tie the game and a three-run homer in the 10th clinched the series.
What might have been a 7-game division lead heading to September is instead a 5-game spread. Yes, that game makes a huge difference and that leaves the Twins' fans asking "what might have been."
Despite Texas heading into the series in just third place in the AL West, they have a better record than the Twins overall (six games) and are just a game behind Seattle and Houston for first place. But Texas is coming in with a bit of a slump, losing seven of their last 10. The Rangers have been dominant at home, however, going 42-24 which is the second-best home record in the AL.
PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Joe Ryan (9-8, 4.33 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 159 strikeouts); Rangers: Max Scherzer (12-5, 3.71 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 161 strikeouts).
BOTTOM LINE: The Texas Rangers look to stop their four-game home losing streak with a win against the Minnesota Twins who are losers of two straight.
Texas has a 75-58 record overall. The Rangers have the third-best team on-base percentage in the majors at .338.
Minnesota is 69-65 overall and 29-36 in road games. The Twins have a 39-16 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.
The matchup Friday is the fifth time these teams match up this season. The Twins have a 3-1 advantage in the season series.
TOP PERFORMERS: Max Kepler has 19 doubles, 21 home runs and 50 RBI for the Twins. Michael A. Taylor is 11-for-32 with five home runs and nine RBI over the past 10 games.
Marcus Semien has 32 doubles, four triples and 20 home runs while hitting .275 for the Rangers. Mitch Garver is 7-for-38 with four home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 3-7, .238 batting average, 4.82 ERA, outscored by 16 runs
Twins: 5-5, .237 batting average, 4.20 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs
INJURIES:
Twins: Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (back), Matt Canterino: 60-Day IL (undisclosed), Willi Castro: 10-Day IL (oblique), Byron Buxton: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Brock Stewart: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jose De Leon: 60-Day IL (elbow), Alex Kirilloff: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Miranda: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Jorge Alcala: 60-Day IL (forearm), Nick Gordon: 60-Day IL (shin), Tyler Mahle: 60-Day IL (arm), Chris Paddack: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Rangers: Josh Jung: 10-Day IL (thumb), Brad Miller: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Nathan Eovaldi: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jacob deGrom: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Odorizzi: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brett Martin: 60-Day IL (shoulder)