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The Texas Rangers have fallen out of the top spot in the American League West and look to regain it on Sunday when they host the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota Twins vs. Texas Rangers (-140, 8.5)
The Rangers give Jon Gray the start on the mound, who has an 8-7 record and a 3.79 ERA this season, but enters in poor form having allowed at least three runs in seven of his last 10 starts.
Additionally for Gray, he has had most of his issues come at home, supplying a 4.17 ERA with 1.3 home runs per nine innings allowed compared to a 3.41 road ERA with 0.8 home runs per nine innings allowed.
While the Twins are 27th in road batting average this season, the offense has been one of the best in the American League since the All-Star Break, ranking third in runs per game with 5.2 runs per game in their last 44 games entering Saturday. Their 75 home runs in that span lead the American League.
On the mound for the Twins will be Kenta Maeda, who has cooled off since initially having success after a stint on the injured list, posting a 4.69 ERA with 1.5 home runs per nine innings allowed this season and allowing at least three runs in each of his last three starts.
Maeda is tasked with limiting a Rangers lineup that leads the league in runs per game at home this season with six per game while ranking third in home batting average with a mark of .276. Their 1.7 home runs per game at home leads the American League with seven different players recording at least 11 home runs at home this season.
Both teams have had serious bullpen issues since the All-Star Break with the Twins ranking 21st in bullpen ERA and the Rangers ranking 25th.
With the struggles of both bullpens coupled with the recent offensive surge for the Twins and the overall strength of the Rangers offense, there will be plenty of runs scored in Texas on Sunday.
The Play: Twins vs. Rangers Over 8.5