The ice-cold Texas Rangers will try to avoid losing their fifth straight game as they play host to the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Park. This AL showdown will get underway at 8:05 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to Fox Sports North.
Minnesota Twins at Texas Rangers Odds
Vegas is listing Texas (-125) as the favorite over Minnesota (+115). The total stands at 11 runs and bettors can wager on either the over or the under for -110. The game’s current runline odds stand at -180 for taking the Twins +1.5 runs and +160 for the Rangers -1.5.
The Rangers are 58-76 straight up (SU) and 66-68 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle much for gamblers, losing 2.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 6.0 units (ATS). Texas has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Twins are 62-71 SU and have gone 69-63 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 9.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline, but have gained 2.3 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Texas games have an over/under record of 61-63-10 in 2018. Minnesota has an over/under record of 63-66-3.
Left-hander Stephen Gonsalves is projected to start for the visiting Twins. Gonsalves is 0-2 with an 11.37 ERA and five strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rangers this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rangers will put the ball in the right hand of Drew Hutchison (2-2, 6.52 ERA, 1.78 WHIP), who’s got 29 punchouts and 25 walks. Hutchison did not accrue any MLB pitching stats last season.
As a unit, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.48, a WHIP of 1.45 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.3. The bullpen has a 4.13 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.4 K/9.
The Texas hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per outing, including 3.1 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .205/.298/.277 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Shin-soo Choo and Jurickson Profar have paced the Rangers’ offense this year. Choo is slashing .280/.389/.472 with 21 home runs, 60 RBIs and 75 runs scored, and Profar is hitting .253 with 14 homers, 65 RBIs and 68 runs.
In the other dugout, Minnesota’s pitching staff allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starters own a 4.53 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 8.28 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.48, along with a K/9 of 9.21.
The Twins offense has slashed .245/.316/.404 on its way to 4.4 runs scored per game this season, including 3.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Left fielder Eddie Rosario and first baseman Joe Mauer have paced Minnesota’s offense. Rosario is slashing .292/.329/.484 with 22 home runs, 74 RBIs and 83 runs scored, while Mauer is hitting .274/.348/.372 with five homers, 39 RBIs and 46 runs scored.
The Twins have lost 5.0 units and are 49-45 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 47 of those games, compared to 45 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 5.7 units and are 19-25 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 22 of those games, as opposed to 17 which went under the total.
Minnesota Twins vs. Texas Rangers Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
