Baker (8-5, 2.88 ERA) has picked up six wins in his last seven starts, dropping his ERA from 3.86 to its current 2.88 over that span of success. Against the Tigers last time out the righthander gave up just three hits over five shutout innings in a victory.

The Rangers have also been Baker victims recently, as he held them to one run on five hits over nine innings pitched in Minnesota in a win on June 11. Overall Baker has surrendered three or fewer earned runs in eight of his 10 most recent outings.

Countering for the Rangers on Thursday will be Matt Harrison (8-7, 3.05 ERA), who has pitched his club to a win in each of his last four starts. The lefthander faced the Blue Jays at home last time out, giving up four runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 5-4 Texas win.

Harrison was a hard-luck loser against the Twins on June 12 in Minnesota, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits over his six innings of work. Texas lost that game 6-1.

As they continue to build their lead in the AL West division standings the Rangers are up to 11/2 on the AL Pennant odds at the Bodog Sportsbook. As well, Texas sits near the top of the list at 11/1 on the World Series odds list right now.

The Twins aren't the write-off they were a couple months ago, but they're still back in fourth place in the AL Central standings and at just 28/1 to win the AL Pennant this season. Minnesota is also sitting with 50/1 odds on the World Series futures board.

Get all your MLB odds at  BoDog.