Friday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Ervin Santana (2-7, 4.64 ERA) vs. LHP Martin Perez (7-4, 3.44)
Saturday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Tyler Duffey (3-6, 5.59) vs. RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-0, 9.00)
Sunday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Kyle Gibson (1-5, 5.12) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (9-1, 2.60)
TWINS UPDATE
The Twins went 10-17 in June, but that was the winningest month so far for the team with the major leagues' worst record. … They are 15-25 at Target Field but have won three of their past four there. … Texas is the only American League team the Twins have yet to play in 2016. They split the season series last year 3-3, with each team winning twice at home. They are 14-10 against the Rangers in Target Field. … They are 8-7 against AL West teams. … 2B Brian Dozier has recorded an extra-base hit in a franchise-record 11 consecutive games, hitting six home runs over that stretch. … Santana has given up five career home runs to Texas' Adrian Beltre and three to Prince Fielder. … 3B Trevor Plouffe has homered against both Gonzalez and Hamels. … 3B/OF Miguel Sano has not played since straining his left hamstring May 31, but he will likely return during this series. … RHP Brandon Kintzler is 3-for-3 in save opportunities, the only saves of his seven-year career.
RANGERS UPDATE
Though they have lost two games in a row, they are 29-10 since May 20 and 14-5 since June 11, a surge that has given them the best record in the American League and enabled them to build an 8½-game lead over second-place Houston in the AL West. They are 11-0-2 in their past 13 series. … This is the middle stop on a three-city road trip that began in New York and will end in Boston. The Rangers are 23-17 on the road and have won eight of 10. … Strangely, though, they have suffered nine walk-off losses in 2016, four more than any other MLB team. … They have scored the third-most runs in the AL. … 3B Beltre has 12 home runs and 52 RBI this season; his 425 career home runs rank 50th in MLB history, and his 1,519 RBI rank 51st. … RHP Sam Dyson has 16 saves in 18 opportunities, but his second blown save came Wednesday when he only retired one batter while giving up three hits, including two homers, and four runs to the Yankees.
PHIL MILLER
