Texas @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 27, 2013 ) Texas 2, Minnesota 7

The Texas Rangers are the only team in the major leagues that has yet to lose two consecutive games this season. The Minnesota Twins can eliminate that distinction with a victory Sunday in the finale of their four-game series. The Twins put themselves in that position by beating the Rangers 7-2 on Saturday. Minnesota made the most of its nine hits and came within one out of its first shutout this season.

Texas gave shortstop Elvis Andrus and designated hitter Lance Berkman got the day off Saturday, but should return in the finale. Berkman is hitting a team-high .333 and Andrus is 10-for-28 in his last six games. A player who might need some rest is Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre, who’s 2-for-15 in the last four games. However, he is 4-for-10 against Twins starter Kevin Correia with two home runs.. Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer has also been unusually quiet in this series, going 0-for-11. He played first base Saturday while Justin Morneau rested after starting the first 19 games of the season.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest (Texas), Fox Sports North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Alexi Ogando (2-1, 3.12 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kevin Correia (2-1, 2.86)

Ogando will make his first career start against the Twins as he continues his transition from the bullpen back to the starting rotation. He has made seven relief appearances against Minnesota, most recently Aug. 23 in a 10-6 victory by the Rangers. He allowed two hits in 1 1/3 innings but also struck out three. He also recorded a hold and a save on back-to-back days against the Twins last April. Ogando won his first two decisions this season, but is 0-1 in his last three starts. Ryan Doumit has the most at-bats against Ogando of any current member of the Twins, collecting one hit in three at-bats.

Correia continues to be a model of consistency. He has thrown seven innings in three starts and 7 1/3 in the other, allowing two earned runs in three games and three in the other. He has walked one batter in each outing. By comparison, Correia went at least seven innings only three times last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 11-year veteran has made just one career start against Texas and that came in 2009 when he was with the San Diego Padres. He struck out nine batters in that victory, which remains his career high.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins 3B Eduardo Escobar has 14 hits in 29 at-bats while playing a platoon role this season.

2. Rangers RHP Tanner Scheppers has not allowed an earned run in the last 13 innings of relief dating to last season.

3. The Rangers came within one out of a shutout in Friday’s game and the Twins within one out of a shutout in Saturday’s game.

PREDICTION: Twins 3, Rangers 2