Cleveland Indians (41-31) vs. Minnesota Twins (31-43)
June 26, 2021 2:10 pm EDT
The Line: Minnesota Twins -160 / Cleveland Indians +148; Over/Under: -9.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cleveland Indians and the Minnesota Twins meet Saturday in MLB action from Target Field. This will be the third installment in a four-game weekend series between these teams. Cleveland managed a win in the Thursday opener, then on Friday the Twins eked out a victory to even it up. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cleveland posted a nice eighth inning Thursday in the opener with three runs on the way to a 4-1 victory. In the Friday game two, the Indians had an early 3-1 lead but let it slip away in an eventual 8-7 loss. Cal Quantrill lasted 4.1 innings with six earned on six hits.
For the Saturday game, the Indians will send out Sam Hentges to start. Over his 32.1 innings of work so far this year, Hentges has 45 hits, 24 runs (23 earned), five homers, 16 walks, 37 strikeouts and a 6.40 ERA.
Over on the Twins’ side, they got 6.1 innings with four hits, two walks and one earned from Jose Berrios in the opener but couldn’t cash in offensively. In the Friday game, the Twins scored four in the third inning on the way to the win. Griffin Jax posted 4.1 innings with three hits and three earned.
For the Saturday starting job, the Twins will send out Kenta Maeda. Over his 52.0 innings this year Maeda has 60 hits, 33 runs (28 earned), 11 homers allowed, 15 walks, 50 Ks and a 4.85 ERA.
The Indians are 27-10 in their last 37 with the total set at 7.0-8.5 and 6-14 in their last 20 on the road with the total at 6.5 or lower. The over is 6-0-1 in Cleveland’s last seven Saturday games and 5-1 in their last six in game three of a series.
Meanwhile, the Twins are 4-1 in their last five in game three of a series and 36-17 in their last 53 Saturday games. Minnesota is 7-17 in their last 24 versus a lefty starter and 0-4 in their last four at home versus a left-handed starter.
PICK: I’m going to take a shot on the Twins in this one. Maeda has been pretty solid lately, with three earned runs over his last 9.1 innings on eight hits. As for Hentges, he did well against the Pirates in his last start, posting no earned with one walk and two hits in 5.0 innings. If both guys come in pitching well this should be an interesting starter battle. I like Minnesota to get the W however if their bats show up.
