Minnesota pays a visit to Texas on Thursday, hoping to shut down the Rangers bats in baseball action at Rangers Ballpark.

Texas hands the ball to starter Matt Harrison in this one and he'll try to improve on his 8-7 mark on the year. Minnesota counters with Scott Baker, who will try to quiet the fans and the Rangers bats at the same time.



View Minnesota vs Texas Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to back visiting Minnesota before the first pitch in this match will find them as +-165-moneyline underdogs. They will see an Sportsbook total of 9.5.

Power Rankings:
The Rangers sit at No. 3 in the American League in the current MLB power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Twins sit at an American League No. 14 on the same chart.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Texas' No. 3-rated American League offense, averaging 5.1 runs per game, against a Twins defense that ranks No. 12 in the American League at 4.7 in runs allowed per game. The Rangers have averaged 9.6 hits per game so far, more than Twins batters have averaged on the year (8.5 hits per game).

Pitching and defensive stats are important baseball handicapping factors and Texas has the American League's No. 9-ranked defense. In the other dugout, the Twins own the American League's No. 12 mark in runs allowed.

Last time out for Minnesota, they were a 7-2 Sportsbook as they battled the Rangers on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Twins at +179 were rewarded, while the 9 combined runs moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Twins grabbed a win last time out, defeating Colby Lewis and the Rangers 7-2 on Wednesday at Rangers Ballpark.




Minnesota Twins Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Oakland are 7-3
After playing Texas are 9-1
After a win are 5-5

Texas Rangers Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing Toronto are 5-5
After playing Minnesota are 2-8
After a loss are 6-4

A few Twins at Rangers trends to consider:
Minnesota is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing Texas
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Minnesota's last 9 games when playing Texas
Minnesota is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Texas' last 9 games when playing Minnesota
Texas is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games at home
Texas is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Texas' last 18 games at home


Next up:
Minnesota at Oakland, Friday, July 29
Texas at Toronto, Friday, July 29