THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Kyle Gibson (8-9, 3.78 ERA) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (8-9, 3.47)

Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-7, 4.06) vs. RHP Nick Martinez (7-6, 3.91)

Thursday, 12:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Ervin Santana (2-3, 5.40) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (6-8, 3.86)

TWINS UPDATE

They are 9-14 since the All-Star Break and have dropped to ninth in the 15-team American League. They have lost nine of their past 12 games. … They are 34-22 at Target Field but have lost six of their past eight home games. … They are 10-10 against AL West teams. They went 1-2 at Texas in June but are 12-9 at Target Field against the Rangers. … They have lost the season series to Texas only twice since 2008. … In 79 career games, Joe Mauer is batting only .230 with 40 strikeouts against Texas. But he is 6-for-12 against Tuesday's starter, Yovani Gallardo. Brian Dozier is 5-for-7 with a home run vs. Gallardo. … All three Twins starters in this series gave up at least seven runs in their last start. Pelfrey has lost his past five decisions, while Gibson and Santana have each lost three straight games.

RANGERS UPDATE

They have won eight of their past 11 and are in third place in the AL West, 4½ games behind first-place Houston and four games out of a wild-card spot. … They are 32-26 away from home, the best road record in the AL, but lost two of three at Seattle over the weekend. … They rank fourth in the AL in scoring with 493 runs, but they have allowed 525, third most. Their 4.49 ERA is second-worst in the AL, and their starting rotation has only eight quality starts in 22 games since the All-Star break. … DH Prince Fielder's .325 batting average is third-highest in the AL, and his .392 on-base percentage ranks fourth. Fielder has 97 singles, only one fewer than AL leader Jose Altuve. … Former MVP Josh Hamilton is batting .250 with five home runs since resuming his Rangers career on May 25. . … Manager Jeff Banister is in his first season with Texas. … They have 10 players on the disabled list, including RHP Yu Darvish (elbow) and 2B Jurickson Profar (shoulder).

PHIL MILLER