The Minnesota Twins host the Texas Rangers at Target Field on Friday, September 25, with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET. Joe Ryan gets the ball for Minnesota against a familiar, formidable name: Jacob deGrom. With the regular season winding down, every game carries weight, and this pitching matchup alone is worth the price of admission. Whatever is at stake in the standings, a Ryan-deGrom showdown on a Friday night in Minneapolis is exactly the kind of game Twins fans circle.

Pitching Matchup: Joe Ryan vs. Jacob deGrom

Joe Ryan has been one of the steadier arms in Minnesota's rotation, relying on his signature fastball command and a willingness to attack the strike zone. He gives the Twins a chance to win every time he takes the mound, and on a night like this, his ability to limit crooked numbers early will be critical.

On the other side, Jacob deGrom is one of the most talented pitchers in baseball when healthy and sharp. The Rangers will hand the ball to a guy capable of completely neutralizing a lineup on any given night. Minnesota's offense will need to be disciplined and opportunistic — waiting for deGrom's rare mistakes rather than chasing his secondary stuff out of the zone.

Minnesota Twins Starting Lineup

• Luke Keaschall, RF
• Brooks Lee, 3B
• Kody Clemens, 2B
• Josh Bell, DH
• Ryan Jeffers, C
• Walker Jenkins, CF
• Royce Lewis, 1B
• Emmanuel Rodriguez, LF
• Ryan Kreidler, SS

Keys to Watch for the Twins

Can the Bottom of the Order Create Anything?

Royce Lewis dropping to seventh in the batting order is notable. Lewis has shown the ability to impact a game in a hurry, and his presence in the lower third gives Minnesota a legitimate threat even when deGrom is dealing. If Lewis, Rodriguez, and Kreidler can work counts and put runners on base, it takes pressure off the middle of the lineup.

Ryan Must Limit the Big Inning

Against a Texas offense that can do damage in bunches, Joe Ryan needs to keep the Rangers from stringing together hard contact. His ability to generate weak contact and induce ground balls will be especially important with the Rangers' lineup capable of punishing any mistake left over the heart of the plate.

Walker Jenkins in Center Field

Jenkins in the six-hole and patrolling center field is a name Twins fans should keep an eye on. Young players stepping into meaningful late-season games often reveal a great deal about what the organization expects from them going forward.

Prediction

This game lives and dies on pitching. Both starters are capable of a dominant outing, which means the offense that manufactures a run or two early likely wins a low-scoring affair. The Twins at Target Field, with Ryan on the mound and the crowd behind him, get the slight edge. Minnesota 3, Texas 2.