Twins at Rangers
The Minnesota Twins attempt to post consecutive wins for the first time in over a week and maintain their slim lead in the American League Central when they visit the Texas Rangers on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. Minnesota remained one-half game ahead of Cleveland in the division by rolling to a 13-6 victory in the series opener.
Rookie Luis Arraez recorded three hits - including one of the team's three homers - and drove in three runs while Marwin Gonzalez continued his offensive surge by going 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Gonzalez has hit safely in seven of his last eight games and posted four multi-hit performances in his last five contests to raise his batting average from .246 to .260. Willie Calhoun and Hunter Pence homered for the Rangers, who trailed 11-0 before getting on the board and fell below .500 (60-61). Danny Santana registered his third straight two-hit effort and plated a run, giving him four RBIs in his last two contests.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (13-5, 3.44 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Mike Minor (11-6, 2.90)
Odorizzi recorded the victory over Cleveland on Saturday, working 5 2/3 scoreless innings despite allowing six hits and issuing a season high-tying four walks. The 29-year-old native of Illinois has permitted a total of two runs over 17 1/3 frames while going 2-0 in three turns since being tagged for nine over four innings in a loss to the New York Yankees on July 24. Odorizzi has made seven career starts against Texas, going 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
Minor has been superb thus far this month, scattering 11 hits and issuing only two walks while registering 18 strikeouts over 15 scoreless innings in victories at Cleveland and Milwaukee. The 31-year-old Tennessean, who is looking to extend his winning streak to four starts, yielded four or more runs in each of his final four turns in July. Minor owns a 4-1 record and 2.18 ERA in one start and 11 relief appearances against Minnesota in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Twins increased their league-leading total to 236 home runs and need 31 to tie the single-season record set last season by the New York Yankees.
2. Texas SS Elvis Andrus has gone 5-for-10 with three RBIs in his last two games.
3. Minnesota activated Michael Pineda (triceps), who allowed three runs over five innings in Thursday's triumph, from the 10-day injured list and optioned fellow RHP Randy Dobnak to Triple-A Rochester.