The Tampa Bay Rays will be taking on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. This AL matchup will begin at 2:10 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports North to catch the game.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Minnesota (-135) is hosting this one as the favorite over Tampa Bay (+125) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 8 runs (-110 for the under and -110 for the over). The games current runline odds stand at -170 for taking the Rays +1.5 runs and +150 for the Twins -1.5.
The Twins are 51-40 against the spread (ATS)despite being only 43-49 straight up (SU). They’ve lost 8.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 8.3 units (ATS). Minnesota has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, have gone 48-46 SU this year and are 54-39 ATS. In total, the teams accumulated 9.0 units for moneyline gamblers and 15.3 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Twins games have an over/under record of 43-45-3 thus far in 2018. Rays games have gone under 53 times, gone over 37 times and pushed on three occasions.
Chris Archer will get the start for the visiting Rays. The right-handed Archer (3-4, 4.41 ERA) has racked up 79 strikeouts in 79.2 innings so far. He’s 0-0 with five strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA against Minnesota this year.
The Twins will turn to righty Jose Berrios (9-7, 3.41 ERA), who has 122 strikeouts and 26 walks to his name as well as a 0.99 WHIP. Berrios hasn’t faced the Rays yet this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 9.00 ERA and seven strikeouts across five innings).
As a unit, Minnesota’s pitching staff has yielded 4.6 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 4.32, a WHIP of 1.34 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.7. The bullpen has a 4.36 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 9.5 K/9.
The Minnesota offense has produced 4.4 runs per contest, including 5.9 per game over its last 10 games and 6.2 per game over its last five. The teams hit .328/.387/.511 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Twins hitters have been led by left fielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar. Rosario is hitting .303/.344/.533 with 19 home runs, 56 RBIs and 61 runs scored, while Escobar’s line sits at .271/.326/.512 with 14 homers, 55 RBIs and 41 runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.81 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 8.72 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.48, along with a K/9 of 8.10.
Rays hitters have slashed .252/.326/.390 on their way to 4.0 runs scored per game this season, including 5.0 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.6 per game over the teams last five contests (3-2 SU).
Third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos have led Tampa Bay’s offense. Duffy is hitting .311/.366/.410 with four home runs, 26 RBIs and 31 runs scored, while Ramos is hitting .297/.346/.486 with 14 homers, 51 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
The Rays have gained 0.3 units and are 34-28 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 27 of those games, compared to 33 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 4.8 units and are 35-30 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in 33 of those games, compared to 30 that’ve cashed the under.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Minnesota Twins MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Tampa Bay has tallied 23 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Minnesota has 18 XBH over its last five.
- The Twins have won eight of their last nine games SU.
- Tampa Bay has recorded 25.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 27.6 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
