Minnesota @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2013 ) Minnesota 1, Texas 2

The Texas Rangers registered the best record in the American League in August with a 20-7 mark and will look to continue the momentum when they host the Minnesota Twins on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series. The Rangers beefed up their record with eight straight series against sub-.500 teams and hold a two-game lead over the Oakland Athletics atop the American League West entering the season's final month. Texas is 8-3 in its last 11 after trading one-run wins with Minnesota.

The Twins closed the books on an era when they traded longtime first baseman Justin Morneau to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday in exchange for outfielder Alex Presley and pitcher Duke Welker. Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, hit nine of his team-high 17 homers in August and his departure further depletes a lineup that has produced 10 runs during a 1-6 stretch. Presley appeared in only 29 games for the Pirates this season after hitting 10 homers in 104 games last year.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kevin Correia (8-10, 4.32 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Travis Blackley (1-0, 4.50)

Correia did not factor in the decision despite a stellar performance last time out when he limited Kansas City to six hits over seven scoreless innings. The Twins have scored only four runs during Correia's three-start winless drought, part of a trend that has seen them fail to score more than three runs in nine of his last 10 turns. Correia beat Texas on April 28, allowing six hits in a season-high eight scoreless innings.

Blackley will make his third start for the Rangers following 42 relief appearances with Houston. He earned a win at Seattle on Monday by giving up three runs on five hits over six innings after lasting only four innings in his previous start. The 30-year-old Australian started against the Twins in May 2012 and gave up one run in five innings and held them to one run in 5 2/3 innings of a relief appearance three months later.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers SS Elvis Andrus exited Saturday's game due to back stiffness and is listed as day-to-day.

2. Minnesota struck out 13 times Friday and 11 on Saturday, extending its franchise single-season record to 51 games with at least 10 whiffs.

3. RHP Neftali Feliz, who saved 72 games for Texas in 2010-11, is expected to join the team Sunday when rosters are expanded.

PREDICTION: Twins 4, Rangers 3