The Texas Rangers visit the Minnesota Twins on Saturday afternoon with the American League West still unsettled and with a Texas pitching plan that raises questions. The Rangers are a -131 moneyline favorite at Target Field. That price asks bettors to trust Nathan Eovaldi in his first start since early August, against a Minnesota club that has beaten Texas in all four meetings this season. The total sits at 7.5. Both of our plays come from the same question: who pitches the middle innings?
Last Updated: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| When | Saturday, September 26 — 4:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | Rangers Sports Network / Twins.TV |
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins Betting Preview
Eovaldi is the story here. He is 11-10 with a 4.27 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, and for most of the summer he was the steadiest arm in the Texas rotation. He has not been that pitcher lately. Eovaldi came off the injured list on September 12 and has worked only in relief since, never exceeding 46 pitches. His longest September outing covered four innings.
Bailey Ober counters at 7-6 with a 4.21 ERA, and his recent work is clearly the better of the two. Ober has allowed six earned runs across his last five starts, including three scoreless innings against the Angels on September 20. That outing lasted only 31 pitches, so he may not be stretched out for a long afternoon either.
Minnesota arrives on a three-game winning streak and is 6-4 over its last 10. The offense broke out in Friday’s opener, with Luke Keaschall collecting four hits and three RBI and Kody Clemens hitting his 27th home run. The quieter strength is the pitching. The Twins have allowed two runs or fewer in four of their last five games.
Texas is 79-81 and level with Houston atop the AL West, though the Astros hold the tiebreaker. The Rangers are 5-5 in their last 10 and have scored three runs or fewer in six of those games. Jacob deGrom allowed eight earned runs in four innings of a 10-2 loss, pushing the load onto the bullpen. See our coverage of the series opener.
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rangers | -1.5 (+130) | -131 | U 7.5 (+110) |
| Twins | +1.5 (-150) | +109 | O 7.5 (-130) |
Odds accurate as of Saturday, September 26, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Rangers | 57% | 43% | Twins |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Rangers vs. Twins Prediction — Who Covers the Middle Innings?
Start with what the price asks. At -131, the market implies Texas wins roughly 57% of the time. That is a real favorite, and its starter has not completed five innings since early August. Texas will likely need five or six innings from its relief corps, on the middle day of a three-game set, one day after deGrom’s four-inning outing forced early bullpen work.
Minnesota, in contrast, has the pitcher in rhythm. Then there is the season series. The Twins have won all four meetings with Texas in 2026, taking three in Arlington in June by a combined 25-7 before Friday’s 10-2 win. Four games prove little on their own. Still, nothing in the sample suggests Texas matches up well here.
The case against is straightforward. Texas is the better team on paper and is playing for a division title, which should mean urgency and the best arms late. Minnesota has been eliminated. The market offers no support for a contrarian read either. The moneyline, run line and total all sit where they opened. This is a lean on the matchup, not a play with sharp money behind it.
The Pick: Twins Moneyline (+109)
Rangers vs. Twins Prediction — Have These Bats Gone Quiet?
The total opened at 7.5 and has not moved, with the over carrying the juice at -130. That pricing shows where the market’s own lean sits. Recent scoring says something different. Texas has been held to three runs or fewer in six of its last 10 games. Minnesota has scored five or fewer in eight of its last 10, with Friday’s outburst the exception rather than the trend.
The objection is the same fact that drives the first play. A starter capped near 46 pitches means Texas hands the ball over early, and long bullpen afternoons do tend to produce runs. That risk is genuine, and it is why this sits second. The counterweight is price. Taking the plus-money side requires being right less often than laying -130 on the popular side, and neither offense has been consistent.
The Pick: Under 7.5 (+110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
Two things decide this game. The first is how quickly Texas goes to the bullpen. If Eovaldi is lifted in the third, the Rangers ask relievers to navigate a lineup that just put up 10 runs. The second is whether Ober reaches five innings after a 31-pitch tune-up. If he is also on a short leash, the total play is the one at risk.
Watch the sixth and seventh innings. Leads change hands quickly when neither starter reaches the middle of the game. For more MLB action on the card, see today’s Reds vs. Blue Jays prediction.
Our picks for Rangers vs. Twins: Twins Moneyline (+109) and Under 7.5 (+110).
MLB Rangers vs. Twins FAQ: Saturday September 26, 2026
What time does the Rangers vs. Twins game start?
First pitch is 4:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Target Field in Minneapolis. This is the middle game of a three-game weekend series, with the finale set for Sunday afternoon. Minnesota won Friday’s opener 10-2 to move to 4-0 against Texas this season.
What channel is the Rangers vs. Twins game on?
The game airs on Rangers Sports Network in the Texas market and on Twins.TV in Minnesota, with no national television window. Radio coverage includes 105.3 The Fan and KFLC 1270 in Texas and WCCO 830 radio in the Twin Cities.
Who is pitching for the Twins today?
Right-hander Bailey Ober starts for Minnesota. He is 7-6 with a 4.21 ERA and has allowed six earned runs across his last five starts. Texas counters with Nathan Eovaldi, who is 11-10 with a 4.27 ERA and is making his first start since early August.
Who won the last meeting between the Rangers and Twins?
Minnesota won the most recent meeting 10-2 at Target Field on Friday, September 25, 2026. Luke Keaschall had four hits and three RBI, while Jacob deGrom allowed eight earned runs in four innings for Texas. The Twins have now won all four meetings between the clubs this season.
Where do the Rangers and Twins stand in their divisions?
Texas is 79-81 and level with Houston atop the American League West, with the Astros holding the tiebreaker. Minnesota is 76-84 and third in the American League Central, already eliminated from postseason contention. The AL West race runs to the final weekend of the regular season.