The Minnesota Twins will head south to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports North will be showing this AL matchup and the game gets underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Tampa Bay (-130) is favored against Minnesota (+120) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this one at 8 runs. Odds for betting on the game’s total currently sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds coming in at Twins +1.5 runs (-175) and Rays -1.5 runs (+155).
The Twins have gone 37-17 SU this year and are 33-21 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 20.1 units for moneyline bettors and 10.9 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread in each of its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 34-19 SU and 32-20 ATS. They’ve gained 5.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 11.1 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Rays games have an over/under record of 22-28-2 so far in 2019. Minnesota has an over/under record of 27-26-1.
The left-handed Martin Perez will get the start for Minnesota. Perez is 7-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 56 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-1, 9.45 ERA and seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings).
The Rays are turning to righty Charlie Morton (5-0, 2.54 ERA), who has 77 punchouts and 27 walks, along with a 1.16 WHIP. Morton did not re a start against the Twins in 2018.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have given up 3.1 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have a 2.33 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.49 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.
The Tampa Bay hitters have put up 4.5 runs per outing, including 5.1 per game over its last 10 games and 5.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .304/.382/.492 over its last five contests and is 5-0 SU during that span.
The Rays’ hitters have been led by outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia. Pham is slashing .299/.411/.478 with eight home runs, 26 RBIs, 24 runs and six stolen bases, and Garcia’s line is .291/.352/.511 with 10 homers, 24 RBIs, 25 runs and six steals.
For the visitors, Minnesota’s pitching staff allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starters own a 3.45 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 8.32 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.19, along with a K/9 of 9.91.
The Twins offense has slashed .273/.344/.515 on its way to 6.0 runs scored per game this year, including 8.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Shortstop Jorge Polanco and outfielder Eddie Rosario continue to lead Minnesota’s hitters. Polanco is hitting .335/.405/.583 with nine home runs, 26 RBIs and 33 runs scored, while Rosario is slashing .282/.312/.565 with 17 homers, 47 RBIs and 39 runs scored.
The Twins have gained 22.1 units and are 27-16 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 21 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 6.0 units and are 12-4 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in four of those games, compared to 12 that’ve cashed the under.
Twins at Rays MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Minnesota has recorded 21 extra-base hits over its last five games. Tampa Bay has 20 XBH over its last five.
- The Twins have an OPS of .859 this season and an OPS of .855 against right-handed pitchers. The Rays’ OPS stands at .777 overall and .801 versus righties.
- The Twins have won seven of their last eight games SU while the Rays have won seven of their last eight.
- Minnesota has posted 30.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 26.2 over its last five.
- The Twins have hit 25 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit 17 over their last 10.
