The Rangers have to like their chances on Tuesday night as strikeout ringleader Yu Darvish takes the bump versus the Minnesota Twins. Minnesota’s starter Phil Hughes has also been hot lately, but Darvish has been an American League candidate for the Cy Young Trophy for the past few seasons now. <\/p>\n
Date\/Time: Tuesday, May 27 2014, 8:10 pm EST<\/strong> Today’s MLB Matchup Stats<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Today’s MLB Insider Preview<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n From the body of work we have thus far in the 2014 regular season, this appears to be a marquee pitching showdown, but you wouldn’t have said that after Hughes’s lousy campaign with the Yankees in 2013. The 27-year old came over to the Twin Cities in the off-season and everyone assumed he would be knocked around, but Hughes has performed admirably for the Twins (23-24).<\/p>\n The Rangers (25-25) have battled a slate of injuries to hang around the AL West division; a lot of that credit goes to the reliably excellent pitching of Darvish. The Japanese import has been worth every dollar he signed for in 2012.<\/p>\n It’s been a tough year for Texas so far. Slugging offensive center-piece Prince Fielder is badly injured with a herniated disk in his neck. On-base machine OF Shin-Soo Choo has battled ankle injuries. The bulk of the starting rotation has been or is out with injury, including cogs like Darvish and Derek Holland. For the Twins’ part, they started the regular season smacking the cover off the ball, but they’ve come back to Earth somewhat in recent weeks. Still, little-known Brian Dozier has 11 big flies on the year and DH Chris Colabello has been harvesting the steaks (30 RBI).<\/p>\n Ultimately, the Twin-kies are not a very talented ballclub and they are treading water until super-prospect Bryan Buxton can join the fray, likely next year.<\/p>\n A lot was expected of Texas, meanwhile, but the injuries have derailed things somewhat. The Rangers still have some nice offensive pieces without Fielder – Alex Rios (.316 average, 26 RBI, eight stolen bases and his best OBP since 2007); Adrian Beltre (.297, five HR and 20 RBI despite missing 15 games) are driving the batting order.<\/p>\n When everybody gets healthy for Texas – if and when that ever happens – the boys from Arlington will be a scary-good team.<\/p>\n Normally you’d say that now is the time to take advantage of Texas, but with Darvish on the mound the opponent can never like their chances.<\/p>\n If the Twins are to have success, not only will Hughes need to keep his good season going, but converted 1B Joe Mauer has to find some of his run-producing power stroke at the plate. He still gets on base and scores runs, but the meatier offensive categories have been in steady decline for the franchise cornerstone.<\/p>\n Having guys like Dozier and Colabello mash is a welcome sight, but you can’t rely on them for an entire season. If Mauer can’t employ a more dynamic bat on a regular basis, the Twins’ chances are probably out the window.<\/p>\n It’s not a stretch to say that confidently on Tuesday night at least, once Darvish is staring down Minnesota hitters.<\/p>\n
\nVenue: Target Field, Minneapolis MN<\/strong>
\nTexas, Minnesota (no odds yet listed)<\/strong>
\nPitching Match-up: Yu Darvish (4-2, 2.35 ERA) vs. Phil Hughes (5-1, 3.15 ERA)<\/strong>
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\nThe Rangers have done a heck of a job to still be playing .500 ball.<\/p>\n