The schedule tilts toward Minnesota. Texas played an afternoon game against the Mets on the 24th and won it 3-1, then flew north. The Twins haven't played since a day game in San Francisco on the 23rd, so their bullpen has had a full day off. That matters for a Ryan start that will probably hand the ball to relievers by the 6th inning.
The Rangers' offense has gone quiet. After a 6-2 win over Toronto, they scored 2, 3, 2 and 3 runs over their next 4 games, and the Mets won 2 of the 3 before Texas took the last one. It also just lost Joc Pederson, who went on the 10-day IL with a hand injury, retroactive to Sept. 19. Minnesota has been hitting better, with 8 runs against the Angels and 3 and 4 in its last 2 wins in San Francisco, both close games. The Twins have won 2 straight.
- 10-Day-ILJoc Pederson (DH) — Texas placed Pederson (hand) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Sept. 19.09/22
- 10-Day-ILKyle Higashioka (C) — Higashioka (forearm) served as the designated hitter and went 1-for-5 for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.09/05
- 15-Day-ILMichel Otanez (RP) — The Rangers placed Otanez on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a viral illness, retroactive to Friday.09/19
- 60-Day-ILCal Quantrill (RP) — The Rangers placed Quantrill (lat) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.09/22
- 60-Day-ILJack Leiter (SP) — Leiter (ankle/biceps) threw a bullpen session at Globe Life Field on Sunday.09/22
- 60-Day-ILCole Winn (RP) — The Rangers transferred Winn (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.09/18
- 60-Day-ILCarter Baumler (RP) — Baumler (intercostal) will begin a rehab assignment for Triple-A Round Rock this week.08/31
- 60-Day-ILJose Corniell (RP) — The Rangers placed Corniell on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with an elbow injury.07/30
- 60-Day-ILJalen Beeks (RP) — The Rangers transferred Beeks (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.07/21
- 10-Day-ILTrevor Larnach (LF) — The Twins placed Larnach on the 10-day injured list Friday with left wrist soreness.09/18
- 10-Day-ILKaelen Culpepper (SS) — The Twins placed Culpepper on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain.09/16
- 10-Day-ILByron Buxton (CF) — Buxton will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right hip Sept. 18.09/11
- 15-Day-ILAnthony Banda (RP) — Banda underwent surgery to repair his left lat strain and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season.07/09
- 60-Day-ILMike Paredes (SP) — The Twins transferred Paredes (oblique) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Saturday.08/02
- 60-Day-ILCole Sands (RP) — Sands will undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to remove loose bodies and bone spurs from his right elbow.07/31
- 60-Day-ILDavid Festa (SP) — Festa (shoulder) will undergo a season-ending double surgery Wednesday.07/29
- 60-Day-ILMick Abel (SP) — The Twins plan to re-evaluate Abel (elbow) on Sept. 1.07/20
- 60-Day-ILPablo Lopez (SP) — The Twins placed Lopez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
Both injury lists are long, but they hurt in different places. Texas has lost much of its bullpen: Cal Quantrill (lat), Michel Otanez (viral illness), Cole Winn, Jalen Beeks, Jose Corniell and Carter Baumler are all out. After deGrom, the relievers left are thin. Minnesota's losses are mostly in the lineup. Byron Buxton is done for the year after hip surgery, and Kaelen Culpepper (hamstring) and Trevor Larnach (wrist) are also on the 10-day list. That leaves 2 depleted lineups on a cloudy, 64-degree night with almost no wind.
There's nothing here for the standings, but deGrom is always worth watching. If he gets back to throwing strikes, Texas has the better arm on the mound. If the walks continue, the Twins get to face a Rangers bullpen that is missing half its relievers.