Preview for Sunday, September 27, 2026. Schedule and player information can change.
Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins
The Rangers travel to Minnesota for a matchup with MacKenzie Gore starting for Texas against Dean Kremer for the Twins. Gore brings a 4.59 ERA over approximately 170.7 innings pitched, with a WP-calculated FIP of 3.93 that suggests his underlying performance has been a bit better than his ERA indicates. Kremer, in a smaller sample of about 83.3 innings pitched, carries a 4.97 ERA and a WP-calculated FIP of 4.93, figures that line up closely with each other and sit behind Gore's marks across the board.
Offensively, the two teams are nearly indistinguishable, with Texas posting a WP-estimated wOBA of 0.311 and Minnesota just ahead at 0.312. On the run-prevention side, the Rangers' team ERA of 4.30 and FIP of 4.20 both come in lower than the Twins' team ERA of 4.56 and FIP of 4.28, giving Texas a modest edge in overall pitching quality even beyond the starters.
Both rosters carry notable injury designations. For Minnesota, Mick Abel is listed on the 60-Day IL and Anthony Banda is listed on the 15-Day IL. For Texas, Carter Baumler, Jalen Beeks, and Paul Bonzagni are each listed on the 60-Day IL, while Minnesota's Eduardo Beltre is also listed on the 60-Day IL. Taken together, the pitching matchup and team pitching numbers favor Texas, with Gore's superior FIP and the Rangers' better team ERA and FIP standing out as the most meaningful separators in an otherwise closely matched offensive comparison.
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: Ryan Jeffers. 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.