The Minnesota Twins will play the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports North will be televising this AL matchup and the action gets going at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are just 7-13 SU and 9-10 ATS. The teams lost 7.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 1.8 units against the spread (ATS). The Twins are 8-7 SU and have gone 11-3 ATS. Overall, the teams gained 2.5 units for moneyline gamblers in the seasons early going and 8.2 units ATS.
Tampa Bay games have a 12-7 over/under record so far in 2018. The Twins have an over/under record of 5-9.
Right-hander Phil Hughes is the projected starter for the visiting Twins. Hughes is 0-0 with an ERA. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays will put the ball in the hands of Yonny Chirinos (0-1, 2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP), who’s got 15 strikeouts and five walks this season. Chirinos did not pitch in the majors last season.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has yielded 5.1 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The teams starters have a 4.47 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.97 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 8.4 K/9.
The Tampa Bay hitters are putting up 4.0 runs per outing, including 4.8 per game over its last 10 games and 6.4 per game over their last five. The teams hit .299/.371/.471 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Left fielder Mallex Smith and second baseman Daniel Robertson have led the Rays offense this year. Smith is hitting .362/.422/.483 with 21 hits, three RBIs and nine runs scored, while Robertson’s line is .250/.434/.450 with 10 hits, five RBIs and 10 runs.
Smith especially relished hitting against righties at home in 2017. Over 122 such plate appearances, he slashed .305/.393/.429 (compared to his total season line of .270/.329/.355).
For the visitors, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.49 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.21 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.13, along with a K/9 of 8.74.
Twins hitters have slashed .233/.306/.397 on their way to 4.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.6 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 3.0 per game over the teams last five contests (2-3 SU).
Minnesota’s hitters have been powered by right fielder Max Kepler and second baseman Brian Dozier. Kepler is slashing .292/.393/.604 with 14 hits, six RBIs and six runs scored, while Dozier is hitting .303/.370/.545 with 20 hits, four homers, seven RBIs and 14 runs scored.
The Rays have lost 6.0 units and are 3-8 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to four that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers.
Minnesota Twins vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in five of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- The Twins have lost three of their last four games SU.
- Minnesota has posted 20.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.8 over its last five.
- The Twins have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit eight over their last 10.
