Rangers' quest for AL West title and .500 record goes down to final day of regular season

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Texas Rangers' quest for an AL West title — and a .500 record — will go down to the final day of the regular season.

Danny Jansen homered and drove in two runs, and Jake Burger also went deep in a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

Texas is 80-81 heading into Sunday's regular-season finale at Minnesota. Houston is also 80-81 going into its final game at the Athletics and holds the tiebreaker over the Rangers because the Astros won their season series.

That means Texas needs a win and a Houston loss Sunday to make the playoffs.

“We're here, and it's a chance, and we're excited for it,” Jansen said after his team's victory but before the Astros routed the A's 13-2. “I've never been a part of a game like this, but it's going to be a lot of fun to go out there and leave it all on the field and control what we can.”

Left-hander MacKenzie Gore (8-11, 4.59) ERA starts for the Rangers on Sunday and right-hander Dean Kremer (4-5, 4.97) for the Twins. The AL West winner will have the lowest winning percentage for a postseason team in a non-shortened season, below the .506 (82-80) for the 2005 San Diego Padres.

“I always say, you worry about tomorrow tomorrow. You have to win today,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “Tomorrow's pretty important, too.”

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 earned the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Brandon Nimmo had an RBI double and made a diving, backhand catch for the final out of the third inning as he tumbled over in right field to deny Kody Clemens, saving two runs. Nimmo played despite cramping.

Nicky Lopez, who hit a two-out double in the second and scored the Rangers' first run, was removed in the middle of the fourth after injuring his left leg while stepping awkwardly on first base.

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

“Today was a big win. Tomorrow's an even bigger one,” Lopez said. “We didn't want to think about tomorrow until we finished today. I think we did a good job.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo dives to reach second base safely for 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)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi reacts after completing the bottom of the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins 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' Brandon Nimmo walks back to the dugout after the bottom of the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, 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)

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.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

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)