The Rangers’ pivotal game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field Saturday afternoon will begin in a delay due to weather in the area. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. — two hours later than the originally scheduled 3:10 pm. start time — after it rained for most of the afternoon. Neither team took on-field batting practice or defensive drills because of steady drizzles and the tarp on the field.
It’s expected to rain in the Minneapolis area through the late afternoon and early evening.
The Rangers are tied with the Houston Astros atop the AL West with, but for tiebreaker purposes, it should be considered a one-game deficit. The Rangers need to play one game better than the Astros in their final two to win the division, because if the two finish with the same record, the latter advances. If the Rangers lose Saturday’s game against the Twins, and if the Astros win their game against the Athletics, they are eliminated from postseason contention. If both teams win their Saturday games, or if both teams lose, the Rangers would need to win their finale against the Twins and need the Astros to lose their finale against the Athletics in order to clinch.