Yu Darvish: Texas Rangers SP Looks to Avoid Another Shaky Start

The Texas Rangers (6-2) won just their second road opener in nine years in picking up a 4-1 victory on Friday night against the Minnesota Twins (2-5), as the two teams are set to meet again inside Target Field with the first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET on FOX.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Rangers as solid -160 favorites, while the total stands at 8.5.

Yu Darvish (1-0, 7.94 ERA) picked up an 11-5 home victory over the Seattle Mariners in his first Major League start on April 9, allowing five runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings of work. He barely survived the event in allowing four first-inning runs.

The Rangers should be able to give their Japanese import plenty of run support despite their 2-9 all-time record at Target Field, with the team collectively hitting .392 against today's opposing starter.

Sports bettors will have no problem playing the Rangers due to their 22-4 record in their last 26 games as a road favorite of -151 to -200.

Minnesota looks to bounce back after having its two-game win streak snapped in the series opener, with the offense needing a continued lift from first-year outfielder Josh Willingham. The 33-year-old slugger is batting .417 with four home runs and seven RBI in his first seven games with the club.

Twins starting pitcher Nick Blackburn (0-1, 7.50 ERA) will need Willingham and the rest of the offense to produce, bringing in a 1-3 record and 4.75 ERA in six career starts versus the Rangers.  He has served up six home runs in 36 combined innings in those outings.

Blackburn was handed a 5-1 home loss by the Los Angeles Angels in his first start on April 9, surrendering five runs on five hits over six frames.

It's important to note that the Twins are 5-1 in his last six starts as a home underdog of +110 to +150, while the "over" is 6-1 in that situation.

Weather forecasts suggest sunny skies and game-time temperatures to reach in the low 70s, with a 5-10 mph breeze out of the southwest (in from center).