Toronto Blue Jays (85-68) vs. Minnesota Twins (68-85)
September 25, 2021 7:10 pm EDT
The Line: Minnesota Twins +165 / Toronto Blue Jays -195 ; Over/Under: 9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins meet Saturday in MLB action from Target Field. This will be the third installment in a four-game weekend series. The Twins took a five-run win in the Thursday opener, then on Friday Minnesota kept it going with a two-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Toronto had an early lead in the Thursday game, but couldn’t make much out of 11 hits in a 7-2 loss. On Friday the Blue Jays had just four team hits in a 3-1 defeat. Jose Berrios put up 6.0 innings with three earned on two walks and five hits.
For the Saturday starting pitcher job the Blue Jays will send out Robbie Ray. Over his 182.0 innings this year Ray has 143 hits, 56 runs (55 earned), 29 homers allowed, 45 walks, 238 Ks and a 2.72 ERA.
Over on the Twins’ side, they posted 13 team hits in the victory on Thursday, along with four runs in the fifth inning. On Friday, Minnesota scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the third inning. Bailey Ober had one earned over 5.1 innings with four hits and six Ks.
The Twins will send John Gant to the mound for the Saturday start. This year Gant is 5-9 with a 3.76 ERA and 88 Ks.
The Jays are 8-1 in their last nine in game three of a series and 20-7 in their last 27 Saturday games. Toronto is 19-7 in their last 26 overall as well.
Meanwhile, the Twins are 2-6 in their last eight in game three of a series and 8-19 in their last 27 at home versus a lefty starter. Minnesota is also 16-35 in their last 50 overall versus a lefty starter.
PICK: I’m going Blue Jays. Ray has overall been quite effective this season, but he’s got a couple of relative duds on his card over the last three starts. In two of his last trio, Ray has a combined six earned on 15 hits, three homers and four walks in 9.0 innings. In the outlier game of that trio he put up one earned in 7.0 frames versus Tampa. Ray shouldn’t have a whole lot of trouble here if he’s on his game, however.
