The Detroit Tigers will be squaring off against their divisional rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The game gets underway 8:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports North will broadcast the matchup.
Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Minnesota (-165) as the favorite over Detroit (+155). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over nine runs and +100 for under nine. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at Tigers +1.5 runs (-140) and Twins -1.5 runs (+120).
The Tigers have gone 50-72 SU this year and are 62-59 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 6.7 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Twins, on the other hand, are 57-63 SU and 65-54 ATS. They’ve lost 7.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 8.7 units ATS. Minnesota has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven outings and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Minnesota games have an over/under record of 56-60-3 in 2018. The Tigers have been a solid under bet with a total record of 47-68-6.
Left-hander Matthew Boyd is the probable starter for the visiting Tigers. Boyd is 7-10 with a 4.20 ERA and 114 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with eight strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA against Minnesota this year (three starts).
The Twins will turn to righty Kyle Gibson (6-9, 3.49 ERA), who has 139 strikeouts and 58 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.24. Gibson is 1-1 with seven strikeouts and a 2.77 ERA across two starts against Detroit this year.
As a unit, Minnesota’s pitching staff has allowed 4.7 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.40, a WHIP of 1.36 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.4. The bullpen has a 4.54 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 9.4 K/9. In 50 divisional games, Twins starters have an ERA of 4.48 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.15.
Minnesota’s offense has put up 4.5 runs per contest, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 6.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .278/.333/.462 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Outfielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar have paced the Twins’ hitters this year. Rosario is hitting .295/.336/.492 with 20 home runs, 68 RBIs and 76 runs scored, while Escobar’s line sits at .274/.338/.514 with 15 homers, 63 RBIs and 45 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.46 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7.22 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.44, along with a K-per-9 of 8.04.
The Tigers offense has slashed .240/.300/.377 on its way to 3.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias continue to lead Detroit’s hitters. Castellanos is slashing .292/.343/.497 with 18 home runs, 68 RBIs and 65 runs scored, while Iglesias is slashing .264/.306/.389 with five homers, 48 RBIs, 38 runs and 14 stolen bases.
The Tigers have lost 11.1 units and are 42-47 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 31 of those games, compared to 53 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 2.5 units and are 19-14 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in 12 of those games, compared to 20 that went under.
Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – UNDER
