After returning home for a three game series with the Detroit Tigers, the Texas Rangers are headed back out on the road for a 10 game road trip, starting on Thursday night when the Rangers take on the Twins in Minnesota.
Texas had won five in a row - all on the road - against Tampa Bay and Cleveland before returning home to Arlington where the Rangers lost their first two games to the Tigers. On Wednesday night, Alexi Ogadno picked up his seventh win of the season, ending Texas' brief losing streak.
On Thursday night, Derek Holland will look to continue Texas' winning ways and extend their winning streak to a modest two games.
Holland is coming off the best start of his season, a complete game shutout against the Cleveland Indians. Holland allowed just five fits and a walk while striking out five en route to the shutout, improving his record to 5-1 and lowering his ERA and WHIP to 4.36 and 1.44.
The Twins will be sending Nick Blackbrun to the mound against the Rangers. Blackburn is 5-4 on the season with a 3.57 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Much like many of the pitchers Texas has faced lately, Blackburn doesn't miss many bats - he's struck out only 40 in 75.2 innings of work on the season.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CDT.