MLB Game Preview - Minnesota at Texas
Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:05 PM EDT

SEA
7
DET
2
F
LAD
7
MIA
13
F
CHC
5
PHI
7
F
CLE
19
NYY
5
F
STL
1
CIN
2
F
NYM
10
ATL
8
F
MIN
13
TEX
6
F
SF
7
ARI
0
F
HOU
6
OAK
7
F
CHW
7
LAA
8
F
Rangers aim for playoff push against Twins
Thu Aug 15, 2019 2:42 AM

The Texas Rangers find themselves 10 games out of an American League wild-card spot with just 42 games remaining as they open a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night in Arlington, Texas.

Even so, the Rangers have a lot to play for, according to shortstop Elvis Andrus.

"I think the next six weeks means a lot for the team moving forward," Andrus told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram after Texas' 7-3 victory at Toronto on Wednesday afternoon.

Andrus went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs in the contest, which capped a disappointing 3-6 road trip for the Rangers.

"That's the message: to keep playing hard, keep doing our thing, don't give in, keep trusting that we can play better, we're a better team," Andrus said of what was discussed during a pregame meeting the team's hitters had with manager Chris Woodward. "And I think today was a good example of going out there and just competing."

It was the first time since Aug. 2 -- a stretch of 11 games -- that Texas had at least 10 hits in a contest, and the seven runs matched the total the Rangers had produced in their four previous games.

Danny Santana and Nomar Mazara homered for the Rangers, and 22-year-old left-hander Kolby Allard, acquired last month from Atlanta, picked up his second major league victory by allowing three runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Rangers rookie right-hander Pedro Payano (1-1, 3.86 ERA) will make his fourth career start Thursday, opposing rookie left-hander Devin Smeltzer (1-2, 3.66), who will be making his fifth major league start.

Payano made his major league debut against the Twins on July 6 in Minneapolis, allowing just a walk during a scoreless inning of relief in Texas' 7-4 loss. He comes in off a 3-2 loss at Milwaukee on Saturday when he allowed two runs on five hits in three innings.

Smeltzer will be making his second career start against Texas. He had a no-decision in a 4-1 loss to the Rangers on July 7 in Minneapolis, allowing five hits and one run in 4 1/3 innings. Texas went on to win the contest on a three-run homer by Rougned Odor in the 11th inning off reliever Adalberto Mejia.

Minnesota, which is just 2-6 in its past eight games, holds a half-game lead in over the Cleveland Indians the American League Central after dropping a 6-5 decision at Milwaukee on Wednesday.

The Twins had a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth before Trent Grisham hit a three-run homer off Sergio Romo.

Minnesota loaded the bases in the ninth on consecutive two-out walks by Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario against Matt Albers, who then got C.J. Cron to fly out to the edge of the warning track in left-center to end the game.

Polanco committed a pair of errors at shortstop in the loss, including an errant throw on a routine grounder by Ryan Braun to start the Brewers' eighth-inning rally. Polanco also dropped a ball at second base on a forceout, the second straight game he mishandled a routine throw at the bag.

"I think we have to stop that inning from getting to that point," Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. "It was kind of self-inflicted tonight, and we just have to make those plays."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Minnesota            
Texas            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Michael Pineda - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Texas
Pedro Payano - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Minnesota

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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