Francisco Lindor and the surging Cleveland Indians are set to take the field against their AL Central foe Minnesota Twins at Target Field in a Friday night game. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports North will be televising the matchup.
Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins Odds
Cleveland (-125) is hosting this one as the favorite against Minnesota (+115) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). There’s a runline of Indians -1.5 (+120) and Twins +1.5 (-140) for this matchup.
The Twins are 70-45 straight up (SU) and 62-52 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 16.1 units for moneyline bettors and 6.0 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total went over in five of those seven. The Indians have gone 69-46 SU this year and are 59-55 against the spread. In total, the club has gained 5.2 units for moneyline bettors and 3.7 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in six of those seven.
Minnesota games have had an over/under record of 58-51-5 in 2019. The Indians have been a good under bet with a total record of 48-62-4.
Shane Bieber will get the start for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Bieber (11-4, 3.31 ERA) has recorded 182 strikeouts in 149.1 innings so far. He’s 1-0 with 18 strikeouts and a 3.52 ERA against Minnesota this year (two starts).
The Twins are sending Devin Smeltzer (1-1, 2.28 ERA) to the mound. Smeltzer has 21 strikeouts and five walks as well as a WHIP of 0.90. Smeltzer is 0-1 with two strikeouts and a 7.11 ERA in one start against Cleveland this year.
Cleveland’s pitching staff allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starters own a 3.88 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 9.73 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.28, along with a WHIP of 1.17 and a K/9 of 9.19.
Indians hitters have slashed .249/.325/.430 on their way to 4.6 runs scored per game this year, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and first baseman Carlos Santana have led Cleveland’s hitters. Lindor is slashing .301/.352/.524 with 20 home runs, 48 RBIs, 65 runs and 18 stolen bases, while Santana has a .280 average with 24 homers, 64 RBIs and 77 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Minnesota’s pitchers have given up 4.6 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starters have an ERA of 3.93, a WHIP of 1.23 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has a 4.48 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 9.4 K/9. In 41 games against divisional opponents, Twins starters have an ERA of 3.60 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.66.
The Minnesota hitters are putting up 5.8 runs per outing, including 5.7 per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .260/.323/.434 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Twins’ batters have been led by shortstop Jorge Polanco and right fielder Max Kepler. Polanco is slashing .295/.357/.497 with 17 home runs, 56 RBIs and 72 runs scored, and Kepler’s line is .265/.341/.548 with 31 homers, 77 RBIs and 78 runs.
The Twins have gained 18.6 units and are 47-40 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 42 of those games, compared to 42 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers.
Indians vs. Twins MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in five of Minnesota’s last seven games.
- The Indians have won six of their last seven games SU.
- The Cleveland defense has coughed up four errors over the last 10 games, compared to nine errors for Minnesota over its last 10.
- The Indians have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Twins have hit 19 over their last 10.
