Minnesota @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2018 ) Minnesota 10, Texas 7

After finishing August with five consecutive losses, the Texas Rangers look to begin the final month of the season on a positive note when they host the Minnesota Twins on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Texas let a six-run lead disappear on Friday and suffered a 10-7 defeat in the series opener.

Nomar Mazara belted a three-run homer and Jurickson Profar recorded a two-run double while Elvis Andrus scored three times as the Rangers lost for the seventh time in nine contests. Tyler Austin ignited an eight-run fifth inning with a homer and Mitch Garver registered a three-run double as the Twins improved to 2-2 on their nine-game road trip. Austin has launched seven blasts in 16 games since being acquired from the New York Yankees and 15 in 50 contests overall this year. Joe Mauer has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, recording two-hit performances four times in that span.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (11-9, 3.74 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yovani Gallardo (7-3, 6.01)

Berrios had his four-start unbeaten streak halted on Sunday as he took the loss against Oakland after yielding three runs and eight hits in five innings. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican went 1-0 during his streak but worked more than five frames just once in that span. Berrios has won both of his lifetime starts against Texas, including a triumph on June 24 in which he allowed two hits and registered a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.

Gallardo is coming off a loss at San Francisco on Sunday in which he surrendered three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings. The 32-year-old Mexican has posted an unimpressive 5.18 ERA at home this season, which actually is more than two runs lower than his mark on the road (7.24). Gallardo recorded a victory at Minnesota on June 23 to improve to 5-2 with one complete game - a shutout - and a 3.72 ERA in 12 career starts versus the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rangers recalled Connor Sadzeck from Triple-A Round Rock after trading fellow RHP Cory Gearrin to Oakland for RHPs Teodoro Ortega and Abdiel Mendoza.

2. Minnesota OF Eddie Rosario (quadriceps) likely will miss the remainder of the team's road trip after being injured Thursday in Cleveland.

3. Mazara is three blasts away from reaching the 20-homer plateau in each of his three major-league seasons.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, Rangers 4