Because the Texas Rangers swept the Baltimore Orioles with a 7-1 win in Game 3 of the ALDS Wednesday night, the start time for Game 4 between the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros has been moved into the prime-time window.
Instead of starting at 1:07 p.m. CT, Game 4 is now slated to start at 6:07 p.m. Wednesday at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Twins need to win to force a decisive Game 5 on Friday night in Houston.
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Minnesota and Houston would’ve been the early game Wednesday had Baltimore beaten Texas to push the series to a fourth game, but the Rangers walloped their way to their fifth straight postseason victory and now await the winner of the Twins and Astros in the American League Championship Series.
The Astros out-hit the Twins 14-3 and out-homered them 4-0 en route to a 9-1 victory in front of 41,017 fans at Target Field on Tuesday afternoon. If the Twins win Wednesday, Game 5 is scheduled to start at 7:03 p.m. CT at Minute Maid Park on Friday.
The loss puts historic pressure on the Twins as they look to reach the ALCS for the first time since 2002. Teams leading 2-1 in a best-of-five series have gone on to win the series 69 of the last 96 times.
If the Twins force a Game 5, it is scheduled to start at 7:03 p.m. CT at Minute Maid Park on Friday.
If the Twins find a way to reach the ALCS, Game 1 against the Rangers would be at Target Field on Sunday at a time to be determined.
Related: Astros clobber Twins to set up must-win Game 4 Wednesday
Related: 5 things that stood out in the Twins’ Game 3 loss to Astros
