Cleveland Indians vs. Minnesota Twins – 8/24/20 MLB Pick, Odds, and Prediction

The Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians meet Monday in MLB action from Progressive Field. 

Minnesota is coming out of a weekend set versus the Royals. The Twins split the first two games, specifically both being a 7-2 loss Friday and 7-2 win Saturday. In the Sunday game Minnesota was able to squeeze by in a tight one with a 5-4 victory. As for the Indians, they played the Tigers this weekend. Cleveland split their first pair as well 10-5 Friday (loss) and 6-1 Saturday (win). In the Sunday rubber match, the Indians dropped the game and the series 7-4. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place. 

Minnesota out-hit the Royals 13-9 in the Sunday win. Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano combined for six hits, two RBI and two runs to lead the offense. Reliever Tyler Clippard earned the win on 1.0 innings and two strikeouts. 

For the Monday game, the Twins will send out Kenta Maeda in the start. Across his five starts this year, Maeda has a 3-0 record with a 2.27 ERA and 33 Ks in 31.2 innings. In his MLB career Maeda sports a 50-35 record with a 3.78 ERA and 674 strikeouts in 620.2 innings. 

Over on the Indians’ side, their trouble in the loss Sunday began with starter Carlos Carrasco, who coughed up seven hits, four earned runs and two homers in 3.1 innings during the loss. Jordan Luplow got going with a 2-for-3 day and a run however, so that’s good news for Cleveland. 

For the Monday start, Cleveland will go with Aaron Civale. In five starts this year Civale is 3-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 34.0 innings. In 15 starts over his career, Civale is 6-6 with a 2.55 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 91.2 innings. 

The Twins are 5-1 in their last six Monday games and 43-20 in their last 63 during game one of a series. The under is 15-5-2 in Minnesota’s last 22 during game one of a series and 20-8-2 in their last 30 Monday games. 

Meanwhile, the Indians are 6-2 in their last eight Monday games and 29-13 in their last 42 during game one of a series. the under is 6-2-1 in Cleveland’s last nine during game one of a series ad they’re 49-21 in the last 70 versus the American League Central. 

Pick: Going Minnesota, but this should be a great matchup, and a great way to kick off this series. Maeda is coming off the best start of his career, tossing 115 pitches and taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning. He’s been consistently great at not allowing significant batting average, OBP and OPS against. As for Civale, he posted his first career complete game his last time out, with one run on five hits. He should be solid here as well, so we’ve probably got a pitching battle on our hands. I think Maeda and the Twins will eke it out, though.