The Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers wrap up their four-game series on Sunday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Twins are currently in a favorable position for a playoff appearance, holding the second wildcard spot in the American League. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers, last season’s champions, are struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive and need to secure a winning streak to stay competitive. Sunday’s pitching matchup will showcase Minnesota right-hander Pablo Lopez (11-8, 4.67) against Texas righty Tyler Mahle (0-1, 2.79), who has just returned from injury. First pitch is set for 2:35 pm EST.
Twins Rely on Veteran Pablo Lopez
The Minnesota Twins are pushing hard for a playoff berth in 2024 after winning the AL Central Division in 2023. They have not tasted World Series victory since 1991 and have not advanced past the first playoff round since 2002. This season presents a challenge with the Cleveland Guardians leading the AL Central and various teams competing for the limited wildcard spots. The Twins entered Texas after a successful series against the Kansas City Royals, where they secured two out of three games. They kicked off the weekend series with a close 3-2 victory on Thursday, followed by a 4-3 win on Friday and a comeback 5-2 win on Saturday, highlighted by a crucial bases-loaded single from Willi Castro that brought in two runs in the eighth inning.
The Twins will count on the experience of Pablo Lopez to finish the series strong. With the recent loss of pitcher Joe Ryan for the remainder of the season, Lopez faces additional pressure to deliver consistent performances. This season, he has recorded 11 wins against 8 losses in 24 starts, including 12 games deemed as quality starts. His current ERA stands at 4.67 with a WHIP of 1.15, having allowed 126 hits over 135 innings, including 22 home runs. Notably, he has walked just 29 batters while striking out 149. In his previous outing, Lopez pitched six innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs while striking out five in an 8-3 victory against the Royals.
Key Injuries: SP Joe Ryan, RP Kody Funderburk, CF Byron Buxton, SS Carlos Correa, 3B Brooks Lee, and LF Alex Kiriloff are sidelined.
Rangers Hope for Mahle’s Momentum
The Texas Rangers find themselves in a precarious position as they approach the latter part of August. With only five weeks left in the regular season, the defending champions must string together wins to remain in the playoff conversation. After a challenging road trip that saw them lose four of six games in New York and Boston, the Rangers struggled to gain momentum in this series, starting with a narrow 3-2 defeat to the Twins on Thursday. Their situation worsened on Saturday when they lost after holding a 2-1 lead late in the game, with starter Nate Eovaldi allowing four runs over seven innings.
On Sunday, the Rangers will turn to Tyler Mahle, who is making only his third start of the season after a lengthy injury layoff. Despite an 0-1 record, Mahle has shown promise with a solid 2.79 ERA and a WHIP of 1.24 in his appearances. He has surrendered eight hits in 9.2 innings while striking out nine and walking four batters. Although the Rangers have lost both games he started, Mahle has given them a chance to win, demonstrating a smooth return to the mound after missing over a year.
Key Injuries: RP Jacob Latz, 3B Matt Duffy, RP Avery Weems, RP Josh Sborz, SP Max Scherzer, and SP Jacob de Grom are out.
Predictions for the Twins vs. Rangers Showdown
The Minnesota Twins appear to hold the advantage heading into Sunday’s matchup with Pablo Lopez on the mound against Tyler Mahle. Although Mahle has shown effectiveness in his limited starts, he will need significant support from the bullpen to secure a win. The Rangers’ bullpen has struggled this season due to overuse stemming from injuries within their pitching staff. While Lopez has faced his share of consistency issues, the Twins have emerged victorious in three of his last five outings. It is expected that Lopez will keep the Twins in the game, allowing the backend of their bullpen to help secure a win against the Rangers.
