The Minnesota Twins will do battle against the Cleveland Indians at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. SportsTime Ohio will be airing the matchup and the game will get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins Odds
Minnesota (+110) is coming into this one as the underdog against Cleveland (-120) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this one at 7.5 runs (+110 for the under and -130 for the over). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at Indians -1.5 runs (+125) and Twins 1.5 runs (-145).
The Indians have gone 9-6 SU this year and are 5-9 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 1.4 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 5.0 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Twins, on the other hand, are 7-5 SU and 9-2 ATS. They’ve gained 3.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 7.2 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Minnesota games have had an over/under record of 4-7 so far in 2018. Cleveland has an over/under record of 5-9.
Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (3-0, 3.48 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Indians. Carrasco struck out 226 hitters across 200 innings last year with only 46 walks and finished the season 18-6 overall with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He made three starts against the Twins in 2017 and put together a 3-0 record against them with a 0.92 ERA and 30 strikeouts.
The Twins are turning to righty Jose Berrios (2-1, 2.18 ERA), who recorded 139 strikeouts over 145 innings last year with 48 walks, while finishing the season 14-8 overall with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.
As a unit, Minnesota’s pitching staff has allowed 3.6 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.61 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 8.7 K/9. In two games against divisional foes, Twins starters have an ERA of 3.00 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.00.
The Minnesota offense is putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 2.5 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .221/.328/.331 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Twins’ offense has been led by first baseman Joe Mauer and second baseman Brian Dozier. Mauer is slashing .378/.531/.486 with 14 hits, six RBIs and six runs scored, while Dozier is hitting .300 with 15 hits, seven RBIs and 12 runs.
In the other dugout, Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 3.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.94 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 8.15 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.12, along with a WHIP of 1.05.
Indians hitters have slashed .208/.284/.355 on their way to 3.7 runs scored per game this year, including 3.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Cleveland’s hitters have been led by third baseman Jose Ramirez and shortstop Francisco Lindor. Ramirez is hitting .200/.323/.418 with 11 hits, eight RBIs and seven runs scored, while Lindor (.238/.294/.413) has produced 15 hits, two homers, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .220/.270/.439 across 241 plate appearances, Lindor did not do as well batting against right-handed pitching on the road last year (compared to his total season line of .273/.337/.505).
The Indians have lost 3.9 units and are 4-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in four of those games, as opposed to five that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Twins have netted 0.9 units and are 7-2 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in four of those games, compared to five that went under the total.
Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Indians have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
- Cleveland fielders have committed six errors over their last five games, compared to three errors for Minnesota over its last five.
- The Indians have won six of their last seven games SU.
