The Minnesota Twins host the Texas Rangers on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Target Field with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET. This is a regular season showdown worth circling on the calendar: Joe Ryan takes the mound for Minnesota against one of the most decorated arms in baseball, Jacob deGrom. With September baseball carrying genuine weight, the Twins need wins, and they'll have to earn every run against a pitcher who has made hitters look foolish throughout his career.
Starting Pitchers: Joe Ryan vs. Jacob deGrom
Joe Ryan has been one of the more reliable starters in the Twins rotation, and he'll need to be sharp Friday night. Ryan's stuff — a riding four-seamer that plays up in the zone and a sharp slider — gives him a legitimate chance to keep any lineup in check when he's commanding both pitches. The question, as always with Ryan, is whether he can minimize damage in the middle innings when the lineup turns over a second and third time.
On the other side, Jacob deGrom is simply one of the most talented pitchers to ever toe a rubber, and even accounting for injury history, when deGrom is available and dealing, he can make any lineup look overmatched. Twins hitters will need to grind at-bats, work counts, and look for any early fastball they can drive. Passive approaches against deGrom tend to end quickly and quietly.
Keys to Watch for the Minnesota Twins
- Early traffic: The Twins must find ways to get on base in the first two turns through the order. deGrom typically settles in as a game progresses, so early pressure is critical.
- Ryan's command: If Ryan locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, he can limit the Rangers' ability to sit on one pitch. Command lapses tend to lead to big innings.
- Bullpen management: September rosters give managers more options. Twins skipper will need to read Ryan's pitch count carefully and not let him face a lineup a third time if he's laboring.
- Capitalizing on baserunners: Runs will be at a premium in this game. The Twins cannot afford to strand runners in scoring position against an elite starter.
Broadcast Information
Minnesota fans can catch the game on Twins.TV Presented by Progressive or listen on WCCO 830 AM. The game is also available via the Audacy App.
Prediction
This is a game where pitching takes center stage, and both starters give their respective clubs a chance to win. Ryan is capable of a quality start, but deGrom's ceiling is simply higher on any given night. Expect a low-scoring affair with the Twins needing a timely hit or two to stay in it. If Ryan can give Minnesota six innings and the bullpen holds, this is a game the Twins can steal. Lean Twins in a tight one, 3-2, with the Target Field crowd making it uncomfortable for a Rangers club that has to travel into a hostile late-September environment.
