Preview for Saturday, September 26, 2026. Schedule and player information can change.
Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins
The Rangers travel to Minnesota for a 4:10 PM ET first pitch, with Nathan Eovaldi taking the mound for Texas against Bailey Ober for the Twins. Eovaldi has worked approximately 141.3 innings this season with a 4.27 ERA and a WP-calculated FIP of 4.29, showing fairly consistent marks between his ERA and his peripheral-based FIP. Ober, in about 126.0 innings, carries a 4.21 ERA, slightly lower than Eovaldi's, but his WP-calculated FIP of 4.59 is notably higher than his own ERA and higher than Eovaldi's FIP, suggesting Eovaldi's underlying numbers hold up somewhat better by that measure.
Looking at the team-wide figures, Minnesota's offense carries a WP-estimated wOBA of 0.312 compared to Texas's 0.310, a slim edge for the Twins at the plate. On the run-prevention side, the Rangers as a team show a WP-estimated FIP of 4.22 and an ERA of 4.32, both lower than the Twins' team FIP of 4.28 and ERA of 4.55, pointing to Texas having the stronger overall pitching staff production this season.
Both rosters carry notable injury designations. For the Twins, Mick Abel and Eduardo Beltre are listed on the 60-Day IL and Anthony Banda is listed on the 15-Day IL. For the Rangers, Carter Baumler, Jalen Beeks, and Paul Bonzagni are all listed on the 60-Day IL. Weighing the team pitching marks, where Texas holds lower FIP and ERA figures, against Minnesota's slightly better team wOBA and Ober's slightly better ERA, the overall run-prevention numbers tilt the picture toward the Rangers.
Statistical scope: MLB Stats API; 2026 regular season season-to-date; exact statistical through-date not supplied.
WP selection: Twins +1.5. Confidence: Slight Lean.
The selection is supplied separately by WP. The comparisons above do not establish why the model made this selection.
WP home-run candidate for Rangers: Justin Foscue. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
WP home-run candidate for Twins: Walker Jenkins. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
Predictions are uncertain; no outcome is guaranteed. Check the picks page for the latest available selections.