Rangers push the AL West race to the final day of the regular season with a 6-2 win over the Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Danny Jansen homered and drove in two runs as the Texas Rangers pushed the AL West race to the final day of the regular season with a rain-delayed 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

Jake Burger also went deep for the Rangers, who remained tied with Houston atop the division standings at 80-81 when the Astros routed the Athletics 13-2 later. Houston holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas, so the Rangers need a win Sunday at Minnesota and a Houston loss at the A's to reach the playoffs.

Following a 10-2 loss Friday and a two-hour weather delay Saturday, the Rangers scored four runs with two outs in the second inning and never looked back.

After the first two batters struck out, Nicky Lopez hit a two-out double off Twins starter Bailey Ober (7-7). Jansen's blooper dropped in for an RBI single, and a throwing error by left fielder Alan Roden allowed Jansen to reach second. Evan Carter, Alejandro Osuna and Brandon Nimmo all followed with RBI doubles to put Texas ahead 4-1.

Jansen added a leadoff homer in the fourth, and Burger hit his team-leading 28th homer in the fifth.

The bottom three batters in Texas' starting lineup went 6 for 11 with four RBIs and four runs.

Making his first start since Aug. 7, Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi went 4 1/3 innings and allowed a first-inning run. Left-hander Robert Garcia (2-1) earned the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Lopez exited in the fourth with an injury in the area of his left ankle and heel. He was replaced in the lineup by Michael Freeman.

Texas played without third baseman Josh Jung, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a broken right hand. Jung got hurt Friday when he was hit by a pitch.

Saturday's first pitch was delayed by rain for 2 hours, 1 minute.

Texas had not announced a starting pitcher for Sunday's regular-season finale. Minnesota will start RHP Dean Kremer (4-5, 4.97 ERA), who has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last three starts.

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Minnesota Twins' Luke Keaschall dives into third base after hitting a triple during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jacob Latz, left, and catcher Danny Jansen, right, shake hands after a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo dives to reach second base safely after hitting a RBI-double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober walks back to the mound after an RBI-double by Texas Rangers' Alejandro Osuna during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo celebrates after hitting an RBI-double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Yordan Alvarez launched a three-run homer and the Houston Astros went deep five times Saturday night as they moved closer to a division title with a 13-2 victory over the Athletics.

Houston (80-81) can clinch the AL West crown and the No. 3 seed in the American League playoffs with another win Sunday over the A's in their regular-season finale or a Texas Rangers loss at Minnesota. Either team will become the first to win a division with a .500 record or worse, excluding shortened seasons.

Alvarez homered in the fifth inning to put the Astros up 6-1. His 42nd homer of the season tied him with Tampa Bay slugger Junior Caminero for second in the AL.

Houston finished with 16 hits as Jeremy Peña, Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve combined for nine of them and seven RBIs.

Peña hit a pair of two-run homers, one in the third and the other in the eighth. He finished 4 for 6 with four RBIs. Parades homered in the first to open the scoring and went 3 for 5.

Hayden Wesneski (6-2) threw seven innings and struck out five while allowing six hits and two runs.

The Astros scored six runs, including Lucas Spence's solo homer, between the seventh and ninth to expand their lead to 13-2.

Jack Perkins (3-13) pitched five innings for the Athletics. He struck out nine but gave up six runs and three homers.

Neither team had announced a starting pitcher for Sunday's regular-season finale.

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Houston Astros' Christian Walker, third from left, takes an at-bat and hits a double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Houston Astros' Lucas Spence celebrates after hitting an RBI double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Houston Astros pitcher Hayden Wesneski throws to the Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, left, high-fives pitcher Ronel Blanco after a baseball game against the Athletics Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez watches the ball after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)