The Toronto Blue Jays will head west to Target Field to take on the Minnesota Twins. Fox Sports North will showcase this AL showdown and the game is scheduled to get going at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Toronto (-110) is the favorite over Minnesota (+100) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs (-115 for the over and -105 for the under). Gamblers can also wager on the games runline with the odds sitting at Blue Jays -1.5 runs (+135) and Twins 1.5 runs (-155).
The Twins are 9-14 SU and 13-9 ATS. The team has lost 3.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 1.4 units against the spread (ATS). Minnesota has covered the spread just twice in its last seven games and the total went over in five of those seven. The Blue Jays have gone 15-12 SU this year and are 14-12 ATS. In total, the teams accumulated 0.7 units for moneyline bettors through the early part of the season and 2.5 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Minnesota games have an 11-11 over/under record thus far in 2018. Toronto has an over/under record of 12-12-2.
Right-hander Aaron Sanchez will get the nod for the visiting Blue Jays. Sanchez is 1-2 with a 3.69 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Twins this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Twins will put the ball in the right hand of Lance Lynn (0-2, 7.71 ERA, 2.04 WHIP), who’s got 22 strikeouts and 18 walks. Lynn did not record a start against the Blue Jays in 2017.
Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 4.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.26 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 9.04 K/9. The bullpen has managed an excellent ERA of just 2.26, along with a WHIP of 1.40.
The Blue Jays offense has slashed .231/.317/.422 on its way to 5.3 runs scored per game this year, including 3.9 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.4 per game over the teams last five contests (1-4 SU).
Toronto’s hitters have been powered by outfielders Kevin Pillar and Teoscar Hernandez. Pillar is hitting .310/.358/.560 with four home runs, 14 RBIs and 19 runs scored, while Hernandez has a .316 average with four homers, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
Hernandez did not do as well hitting against right-handed pitching on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .231/.333/.500 across 30 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .271/.315/.624).
In the other dugout, Minnesota’s pitching staff has yielded 5.5 runs per game overall this year. The teams starters have an ERA of 4.53, a WHIP of 1.36 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.1. The bullpen has a 6.25 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
The Minnesota hitters have produced 4.0 runs per contest, including 3.9 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .274/.355/.463 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Twins batters have been led by shortstop Eduardo Escobar and first baseman Joe Mauer. Escobar is hitting .308/.356/.564 with three home runs, 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored, and Mauer’s line sits at .293/.454/.373 with 22 hits, seven RBIs and 11 runs.
The Blue Jays have gained 2.5 units and are 7-8 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in six of those games, compared to eight that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 3.1 units and are 10-7 ATS when facing a righty starter. The overs cashed in nine of those games, compared to eight that went under.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Minnesota Twins Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Minnesota has posted 20.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 23.4 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
