The Minnesota Twins are paying a visit to Detroit to face their AL Central rival Tigers at Comerica Park. Fox Sports North will televise the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
Minnesota (-115) is favored over Detroit (+105) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total stand at +105 for the under and -125 for the over. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at +130 for the Twins -1.5 runs and -150 for the Tigers +1.5.
The Twins are 52-59 SU and are 62-51 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 7.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline, despite having gained 8.0 units ATS. Minnesota is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Tigers, on the other hand, are 47-66 SU and 58-57 ATS. They’ve lost 4.7 units for moneyline bettors and 8.7 units ATS. Detroit has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven outings and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Detroit games have an over/under record of 45-65-5 in 2018. Twins games have gone under 56 times, gone over 54 times and pushed on three occasions.
Right-hander Ervin Santana is getting the start for the visiting Twins. Santana (0-0, 6.14 ERA) has racked up nine strikeouts in 14.2 innings so far. This is his first outing against Detroit this year. He did make three starts against the Tigers in 2017, posting a 1-1 record against them with a 5.87 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
The Tigers will be sending righty Jordan Zimmermann (4-4, 4.31 ERA) to the mound. Zimmermann has 73 strikeouts and 16 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.23. Zimmermann made four starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 0-3 record in 2017, posting a 0-3 record with an 11.49 ERA.
Minnesota’s pitching staff allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starters own a 4.34 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.48 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.70, along with a K-per-9 of 9.47.
The Twins offense has slashed .244/.317/.400 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game this year, including 4.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Minnesota’s offense has been sparked by left fielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar, who have combined to swat 35 home runs. Rosario is slashing .293/.334/.494 with 20 home runs, 66 RBIs and 72 runs scored, while Escobar has a .274 average with 15 homers, 63 RBIs and 45 runs scored.
For the home team, Detroit’s pitching staff has yielded 4.6 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 4.28 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.47 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 7.8 K/9. In 44 divisional games, Tigers starters have an ERA of 4.11 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.45.
Detroit’s offense is putting up 3.8 runs per outing, including 3.5 per game against divisional foes and 2.0 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .206/.246/.276 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Tigers’ hitters have been led by outfielder Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias. Castellanos is slashing .284/.336/.484 with 16 home runs, 59 RBIs and 58 runs scored, and the line for Iglesias stands at .267/.306/.391 with four homers, 45 RBIs, 35 runs and 14 steals.
The Twins have lost 5.5 units and are 43-39 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 42 of those games, as opposed to 38 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 11.8 units and are 38-46 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 30 of those games, compared to 50 that went under the total.
Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – UNDER
