The Texas Rangers will be facing off against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Fox Sports North will televise this AL showdown and the first pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins Odds
Texas (+160) is coming into this one as the underdog against Minnesota (-170) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 9.5 runs (+110 for the over and -130 for the under). Gamblers can also wager on the games spread with the current runline odds coming in at Rangers +1.5 runs (-135) and Twins -1.5 runs (+115).
The Twins are 41-31 against the spread (ATS), but only 33-40 straight up (SU). The team has lost 6.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 7.5 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. The Rangers, on the other hand, have gone 34-44 SU this year and are 36-41 ATS. In total, the teams lost 1.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 10.6 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Twins games have a 33-36-3 over/under record so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 34-37-6.
Bartolo Colon is getting the start for the visiting Rangers. The right-handed Colon is 4-4 with a 4.91 ERA and 49 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Twins this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Twins are putting the ball in the hands of righty Jose Berrios (7-5, 3.38 ERA), who’s got 97 strikeouts and 18 walks, as well as a 0.97 WHIP. Berrios only made one start against the Rangers in 2017 (1-0, 9.00 ERA and six strikeouts across five innings).
Minnesota’s pitchers have given up 4.5 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The clubs starters have an ERA of 4.21, a WHIP of 1.32 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.7. The bullpen has a 4.25 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9.0 K/9.
The Minnesota hitters are putting up 4.2 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game over its last 10 games and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .203/.274/.366 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Twins hitters have been led by left fielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar. Rosario is slashing .317/.355/.582 with 17 home runs, 50 RBIs, 53 runs and six steals, and Escobar’s line sits at .292/.344/.562 with 12 homers, 48 RBIs and 35 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Texas pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.42 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 6.67 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.71, along with a WHIP of 1.46 and a K/9 of 8.29.
Rangers hitters have slashed .234/.321/.394 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this year, including 6.0 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 6.0 per game over the teams last five contests (5-0 SU).
Shin-soo Choo and Nomar Mazara have paced Texas offense. Choo is hitting .279/.391/.479 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs and 48 runs scored, while Mazara is hitting .277/.342/.481 with 14 homers, 51 RBIs and 42 runs scored.
The Rangers have gained 0.8 units and are 25-28 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 21 of those games, as opposed to 29 that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 3.4 units and are 29-22 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in 26 of those games, as opposed to 23 that’ve cashed the under.
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in just two of Minnesota’s last seven games.
- Texas has posted 23.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 24.8 over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
