ARLINGTON, Texas — Neil Allen returned to the Twins on Thursday, and to a starting rotation that has begun to look more consistent than it has all season. Ten times in May, and 12 more in June, Minnesota's starting pitcher allowed five or more runs.
It hasn't happened once during July's first week.
Tyler Duffey, the only Twins pitcher credited with four wins thus far, gets the start tonight, to open the four-game series with the Rangers, and hopes to extend that streak. Duffey has won each of his last two starts, including a victory last Saturday against these Rangers.
He'll face Chi Chi Gonzalez, the Rangers righthander who couldn't finish the first inning last Saturday, allowing four runs in the Twins' eventual 17-5 win.
Here are the lineups for tonight's game, to be played, at least at the start, in 90-degree heat.
TWINS
Nunez SS
Mauer 1B
Sano 3B
Dozier 2B
Kepler RF
Grossman DH
Rosario LF
Suzuki C
Buxton CF
Duffey RHP
RANGERS
Choo RF
Desmond CF
Beltre 3B
Fielder DH
Profar 1B
Odor 2B
Andrus SS
Mazara LF
Chirinos C
Gonzalez RHP