The Minnesota Twins are paying a visit to Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to take on the Oakland Athletics. NBC Sports – California will broadcast this AL matchup. The first pitch will be at 10:05 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
The Athletics are 92-61 straight up (SU) and 81-71 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 34.5 units for moneyline bettors and 9.5 units (ATS). Oakland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Twins are 71-81 SU and have gone 78-74 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 11.1 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 0.1 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Neither team has positioned itself as an obvious over/under bet this season. Athletics games have a 72-71-9 over/under record in 2018. The Twins have an over/under record of 75-74-3.
Jose Berrios is getting the start for the visiting Twins. The right-handed Berrios is 11-11 with a 3.81 ERA and 185 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with four strikeouts and a 5.40 ERA against Oakland this year.
The Athletics will send righty Liam Hendriks (0-1, 5.30 ERA) to the mound. Hendriks has 18 strikeouts and nine walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.61. Hendriks hasn’t faced the Twins yet this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 4.58 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 8.25 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.61, along with a K-per-9 of 9.02.
The Twins offense has slashed .247/.317/.404 on its way to 4.4 runs scored per game this year, including 5.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Left fielder Eddie Rosario and first baseman Joe Mauer continue to lead Minnesota’s hitters. Rosario is hitting .288/.323/.479 with 24 home runs, 77 RBIs and 87 runs scored. Mauer is hitting .276 with six homers, 45 RBIs and 53 runs scored.
For the home team, Oakland’s pitching staff has allowed 4.1 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have an ERA of 4.12, a WHIP of 1.23 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.6. The bullpen has a 3.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.
The Oakland hitters have put up 5.0 runs per contest, including 7.2 per game over its last 10 games and 9.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .316/.398/.486 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie have led the way for the Athletics’ batters this year. Semien is hitting .258/.324/.382 with 12 home runs, 61 RBIs, 85 runs and 14 stolen bases, and Lowrie’s line is .269/.356/.450 with 21 homers, 94 RBIs and 74 runs.
The Twins have lost 3.9 units and are 57-52 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 56 of those games, compared to 51 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 29.3 units and are 51-46 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 48 of those games, compared to 45 that went under the total.
Minnesota Twins vs. Oakland Athletics Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
