Padilla has been on the mound for five of Texas' last 15 wins, going 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in those outings. Padilla's hot streak began with a shutout of the Twins (23-23) in Texas on April 27, when he scattered seven hits and two walks while striking out a pair in a 10-0 victory - his first shutout since 2003, when he pitched for Philadelphia.
Minnesota's Livan Hernandez (6-2, 3.88) opposed Padilla on April 27, and will do so again on Thursday. Hernandez pitched just 2 2-3 innings in that start, allowing seven runs and nine hits to fall to 3-1 with an 8.75 ERA in four career starts against the Rangers