Texas Rangers Starting Max Scherzer to Open Twins Series, Set Rotation

The Texas Rangers have set their pitching probables for their three-game series with the Minnesota Twins, which starts Friday at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Friday’s opener pits two pitchers who faced each other last Saturday in Minneapolis.

Right-hander Max Scherzer (12-5, 3.71) is expected to start for the Rangers. He has gone 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA in his first five starts with Texas, which includes 40 strikeouts and 10 walks, while allowing batters to hit .167 against him. He’s thrown four quality starts in that span and the Rangers are 4-1 in his starts.

He took the no-decision against the Twins on Saturday, throwing seven innings of four-hit baseball. He gave up two earned runs and a walk while striking out 10.

Joe Ryan (9-8 4.33) was activated from the 15-day injured list to face Scherzer last week. He also took a no-decision, going five innings and giving up five hits and one earned run. He walked two and struck out seven. In his last seven starts he is 1-3 with a 6.82 ERA.

Jordan Montgomery (8-10, 3.19) will start for the Rangers on Saturday and face a former Rangers starter Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 3.50).

Montgomery started against the Twins on Sunday, taking a no-decision. He threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs, while walking two and striking out four. He’s put up terrific starts for the Rangers, going 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA in five starts since joining the team.

Keuchel made a brief appearance with the Rangers last year, as he went 0-2 in two starts and gave up 14 earned runs in 10 innings. With the Twins, the left-hander seems to have found some of the former that made him a Cy Young winner and World Series champion with the Houston Astros.

His last appearance was in relief against Texas on Sunday, as he went five innings, giving up five hits and no earned run. He walked two and struck out three. He last started a game on Aug. 20 against Pittsburgh, claiming the victory by throwing 6 1/3 innings of one-hit baseball.

Jon Gray (8-7, 3.79) is slated to start for the Rangers on Sunday. He took a no-decision in his last start against the New York Mets on Monday, throwing six innings of four-hit baseball, giving up three earned runs and one walk. He struck out nine in a game the Rangers eventually won.

The Twins expect to start right-hander Kenta Maeda (3-7, 4.69). He last threw on Monday against Cleveland, going just four innings and giving up seven hits and six earned runs in a no-decision. He walked one and struck out three. In his last seven starts he is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA.

Friday’s game is set for 7:05 p.m. CT, while Saturday’s game is 6:15 p.m. and Sunday’s finale begins at 1:35 p.m.

After the Twins leave town, the Rangers host the Houston Astros for a critical three-game series that starts on Monday.

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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