Zebby Matthews (2-4, 5.20) gets the ball for the Twins opposite Kumar Rocker (2-5, 3.56) in Arlington. On paper that's a mismatch in Texas's favor — Rocker has been the steadier arm all year and Matthews is coming off a 7-earned-run bludgeoning in Detroit. But the lineup Rocker is trying to protect keeps shrinking.
The Rangers played Monday's opener without Corey Seager, who landed on the 7-day concussion IL after a home-plate collision with Royals catcher Carter Jensen last Thursday. Stack that on Evan Carter (oblique) and Michael Helman (hand) both hitting the 10-day, plus catcher Danny Jansen, and a 35-37 club is suddenly playing shorthanded against a Twins team that just took the front end of the series 4-2.
- Day-To-DayKaelen Culpepper SS — Culpepper was promoted to Double-A Wichita after hitting .293/.385/.479 with nine home runs and 15 stolen bases in 54 games for High-A Cedar Rapids.
- Day-To-DayWalker Jenkins CF — Jenkins (shoulder) could start a rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Myers as soon as Saturday, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJulian Merryweather RP — Merryweather (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with the Twins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday, Theodore Tollefson of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
- Day-To-DayMatt Canterino SP — Canterino (shoulder) will be with the Twins in big-league spring training but isn't expected to pitch during camp as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILRyan Jeffers C — Jeffers had the cast and stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand and has resumed throwing, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILMick Abel SP — Abel (elbow) struck out five and permitted two hits and no walks over three scoreless frames in his first rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
- 15-Day-ILKendry Rojas RP — Rojas (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILCole Sands RP — The Twins returned Sands (forearm) from his rehab assignment Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
- Day-To-DaySebastian Walcott SS — Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker said Tuesday that Walcott could be ready for game action in August, "if all things according to plan" in his rehab from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 7-Day ILCorey Seager SS — The Rangers placed Seager on the 7-day concussion injured list Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 10-Day-ILMichael Helman CF — The Rangers placed Helman (hand) on the 10-day injured list Sunday.
- 10-Day-ILEvan Carter CF — The Rangers placed Carter (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Saturday.
- 10-Day-ILDanny Jansen C — Jansen is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Guardians on Friday.
- 15-Day-ILJalen Beeks RP — Beeks (2-1) earned the win in relief Saturday against the Cubs after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings. He struck out one with no hits or walks allowed.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — The Rangers placed Martin on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right shoulder impingement.
- 60-Day-ILJordan Montgomery SP — Montgomery (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Minnesota's not exactly whole either — Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober, David Festa and Mick Abel are all on the shelf, which is half the reason Matthews is even getting this start. The Twins have rattled off 3 wins in their last 4 to claw back toward .500 at 34-40, and the bats showed up Monday for the kind of road win they've struggled to bank all year.
The Rocker piece is the swing factor. He's only gone past 5 innings twice in his last handful of starts and was lifted at 83 pitches in his last outing against Kansas City, so the Texas bullpen is going to get touched again. With Chris Martin and Jalen Beeks both down, that's not the group you want carrying middle innings against a lineup that just put up 4 on you a night ago.
Globe Life is a hitter's park, the total opened at 8.5, and Matthews has been allergic to clean innings. If Minnesota gets to Rocker early, the Twins are in business of grabbing a series win before Wednesday's off day. If Rocker carves it up the way his ERA suggests he can, this thing turns into a bullpen game neither side really wants.