Tommy Pham and the Tampa Bay Rays will be taking on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in a Thursday showdown. The opening pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports North will televise this AL matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins Odds
The Twins are 52-27 straight up (SU) and 44-34 against the spread (ATS). The team has gained 19.3 units for moneyline bettors and 6.9 units ATS. Minnesota has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Rays are 45-35 SU and have gone 43-36 against the spread. In total, the club has lost 2.5 units for moneyline gamblers, but have gained 4.5 units ATS. Tampa Bay is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Minnesota games have an over/under record of 40-33-5 so far in 2019. The Rays have been a decent under bet with a total record of 32-42-5.
Ryne Stanek will get the nod for the visiting Rays. The right-handed Stanek is 0-1 with a 2.47 ERA and 47 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA against Minnesota this year.
The Twins will turn to lefty Martin Perez (7-3, 4.28 ERA), who has 76 strikeouts and 37 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.43. Perez is 0-1 with three strikeouts and a 20.25 ERA in one start against Tampa Bay this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.6 runs per game and its starters own a 3.05 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 10.01 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.61, along with a WHIP of 1.08 and a K/9 of 8.57.
Rays hitters have slashed .257/.331/.430 on their way to 4.6 runs scored per game in 2019, including 3.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been paced by outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia. Pham is slashing .294/.398/.480 with 12 home runs, 34 RBIs, 37 runs and seven steals. Garcia has a .285 average with 11 homers, 35 RBIs, 36 runs and eight stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.3 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.75, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has a 4.37 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.
The Minnesota hitters are putting up 5.8 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .304/.354/.473 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Twins’ offense has been led by shortstop Jorge Polanco and left fielder Eddie Rosario. Polanco is slashing .321/.379/.532 with 11 home runs, 39 RBIs and 50 runs scored, while Rosario’s line is .282/.312/.529 with 20 homers, 60 RBIs and 51 runs.
The Rays have gained 0.1 units and are 17-11 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in nine of those games, compared to 18 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Twins have netted 15.2 units and are 31-28 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 29 of those games, compared to 27 that’ve cashed the under.
Rays at Twins MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Tampa Bay has recorded 17 extra-base hits over its last five games. Minnesota has 15 XBH over its last five.
- The Rays have lost three of their last four games SU while the Twins have taken four of their last five.
- The Tampa Bay defense has allowed five errors over the last five outin, compared to two errors for Minnesota over its last five.
- The Rays have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
- The Rays have an OPS of .762 this season, including an OPS of .733 against left-handed pitchers. The Twins’ OPS stands at .843 overall and .890 against southpaws.
