The Minnesota Twins will play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Target Field. Fox Sports North is in line to televise this interleague showdown and the game is slated to get underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Minnesota Twins Odds
Minnesota (+110) is the home-team underdog against Pittsburgh (-120) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at +100 for the under and -120 for the over. The game’s runline odds stand at +125 for picking the Pirates -1.5 runs and -145 for the Twins +1.5.
The Pirates have gone 61-58 SU this year and are 57-62 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle much this year, gaining 2.6 units for moneyline bettors, despite having lost 8.3 units ATS. The Twins, on the other hand, are 54-63 SU and 63-54 ATS. They’ve lost 10.1 units for moneyline bettors while earning 6.0 units ATS.
Twins games have an over/under record of 55-59-3 in 2018. Pittsburgh has an over/under record of 57-54-8.
The right-handed Jameson Taillon is projected to start for the visiting Bucs. Taillon (9-8, 3.63 ERA) has recorded 119 strikeouts in 134 innings so far. He’s 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA against Minnesota this year.
The Twins are sending righty Jake Odorizzi (4-7, 4.50 ERA) to the mound. Odorizzi has 120 strikeouts and 49 walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.41. Odorizzi is 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 6.23 ERA in one start against Pittsburgh this year.
Minnesota’s pitching staff has allowed 4.7 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have a 4.33 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.67 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
The Minnesota hitters have put up 4.4 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over their last five. The team has hit .228/.267/.353 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Twins’ batters have been led by Eddie Rosario, who is hitting .296/.337/.495 with 20 home runs, 67 RBIs and 74 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starters own a 4.20 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7.17 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.20, along with a WHIP of 1.31 and a K-per-9 of 9.60.
Pirates hitters have slashed .255/.322/.416 on their way to 4.6 runs scored per game this year, including 5.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Corey Dickerson has led Pittsburgh’s offense and is slashing .305/.337/.488 with 11 home runs, 46 RBIs and 52 runs scored.
The Pirates just lost a 4-3 game to the Giants, while the Twins are coming off of a 4-2 loss against the Tigers.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Minnesota Twins Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in just two of Minnesota’s last seven games.
- The Pirates have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
- Minnesota has recorded 20.8 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.2 over its last five.
