The Boston Red Sox will be taking on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. New England Sports Network is in line to televise this AL matchup and the action gets underway at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins Odds
Minnesota (+105) is coming into this one as the underdog to Boston (-115) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this one at 9 runs (-105 for the over and -115 for the under). Gamblers can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at +130 for the Red Sox -1.5 runs and -150 for the Twins +1.5 runs.
The Red Sox are 49-26 SU and have gone 41-33 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 11.8 units for moneyline bettors and 7.0 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Twins, on the other hand, are 33-37 SU and 40-29 ATS. They’ve lost 5.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 9.4 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Minnesota games have had an over/under record of 32-35-2 so far in 2018. Boston has an over/under record of 35-37-2.
Right-hander Rick Porcello is the projected starter for Boston. Porcello is 8-3 with a 3.70 ERA and 89 strikeouts. He has yet to face Minnesota this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 1-1 record with a 3.46 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
The Twins will put the ball in the right hand of Kyle Gibson (2-4, 3.27 ERA), who has 81 punchouts and 36 walks as well as a 1.17 WHIP. Gibson only made one start against the Red Sox in 2017 (0-1, 4.76 ERA and two strikeouts across 5.2 innings).
Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.3 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 4.08 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.97 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 9.0 K/9.
Minnesota’s hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game over its last 10 games and 5.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .255/.317/.461 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Left fielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar have led the Twins’ offense this year. Rosario is slashing .320/.359/.579 with 16 home runs, 46 RBIs, 52 runs and six steals, and Escobar’s line is .300/.350/.577 with 12 homers, 48 RBIs and 35 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 3.6 runs per game and its starters own a 3.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.69 K/9. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.18, along with a K-per-9 of 9.72.
Red Sox hitters have slashed .259/.329/.447 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
J.D. Martinez and Andrew Benintendi continue to lead Boston’s offense. Martinez is slashing .312/.383/.621 with 22 home runs, 55 RBIs and 46 runs scored, while Benintendi (.292/.379/.528) has produced 12 homers, 47 RBIs, 51 runs and 12 stolen bases.
The Red Sox have gained 15.6 units and are 34-23 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 28 of those games, as opposed to 27 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 2.4 units and are 29-21 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 25 of those games, as opposed to 23 which went under the total.
Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in four of Boston’s last seven contests.
- The Red Sox have lost four of their last five games SU while the Twins have taken four of their last five.
- Boston has posted 18.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.4 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Twins have hit eight over their last 10.
