Minnesota Twins (61-77) vs. Cleveland Indians (68-68)
September 9, 2021 6:10 pm EDT
The Line: Cleveland Indians -125 / Minnesota Twins -105; Over/Under: +9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians meet Thursday in MLB action from Progressive field. This will be the final installment in a four-game series. The Twins took wins in the first pair, then on Wednesday Minnesota kept it going with a shutout win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Minnesota posted a 5-2 victory in the Monday opener, then followed that up with a 3-0 win on Tuesday. In the Wednesday game, the Twins put up just six hits but turned them into another 3-0 win. Joe Ryan lasted 7.0 frames with one hit and four Ks.
For Thursday’s starting pitcher role, the Twins will send out Randy Dobnak. Over his 50.2 innings this year Dobnak has 66 hits, 44 runs (43 earned), 11 homers allowed, 12 walks, 27 Ks and a 7.64 ERA.
Over on the Indians’ side, they couldn’t get any offense going off seven team hits in the Tuesday loss. On Wednesday, Cleveland went cold offensively and could only manage the one hit in the defeat. Triston McKenzie put up 6.0 innings with one earned, three hits and one walk.
Starting pitcher for the Thursday finale will be the Indians’ Cal Quantrill. Across 122.2 innings this year Quantrill has 110 hits, 47 runs (43 earned), 13 homers allowed, 40 walks, 101 Ks and a 3.15 ERA.
The Twins are 4-1 in their last five in game four of a series and 2-5 in their last seven Thursday games. Minnesota is 9-23 in their last 32 with a total of 7.0-8.5 and the under is 5-2-1 in their last eight in game four of a series.
Meanwhile, the Indians are 8-3 in their last 11 in game four of a series and 72-35 in their last 107 Thursday games. Cleveland is 114-56 in their last 170 at home versus a team with a losing record and the under is 5-1-1 in their last seven in game four of a series.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Indians. Both these starters could use a good bounce-back effort here, though. Quantrill put up five earned on seven hits, three homers and two walks against the Red Sox his last time up. As for Dobnak, he’s coming off five earned on six hits in 7.0 innings versus the Rays. Dobnak has given up five or more earned in three of his last four starts, so he’s probably got some higher expectations in finding his groove here.
