Minnesota Twins (58-77) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (86-50)
September 5, 2021 1:10 pm EDT
The Line: Tampa Bay Rays -233 / Minnesota Twins +185; Over/Under: +9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays meet in MLB action from Tropicana Field on Sunday.
The Minnesota Twins will look to rebound from an 11-4 loss at the hands of the Rays on Sunday. Jorge Polanco had a two-run home run with a double in going 3 for 4 at the dish while Miguel Sano had a solo home run and Max Kepler added an RBI as well to finish off Minnesota’s scoring as a team in the loss. Rob Refsnyder had two hits with a double while Andrelton Simmons and Josh Donaldson each had a base hit as well to cap off the offense for the Twins in defeat. Andrew Albers took the loss, falling to 1-1 after allowing nine runs on ten hits over three innings of work. Griffin Jax will start here and is 3-3 with a 6.71 ERA and 44 strikeouts this season.
The Tampa Bay Rays will look to get the job done after their win on Saturday. Yandy Diaz led the charge with a three-run home run and a total of four RBIs while Nelson Cruz, Manuel Margot, Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe and Jordan Luplow each had a solo home run with Arozarena adding a triple as well. Wander Franco added a double with an RBI as well and Kevin Kiermaier added a base hit as well to finish off Tampa Bay’s offense in the rout. Chris Archer got the win to improve to 1-1 after allowing four runs on four hits with three K’s over five innings of work. Dietrich Enns closed the final three innings for his 1st save of the season. Luis Patino will start here and is 4-3 with a 4.24 ERA and 58 strikeouts this season.
Minnesota is 2-6 in their last 8 road games and 3-7 in their last 10 games as an underdog while the over is 10-2-1 in their last 13 games against the AL East. Tampa Bay is 38-14 in their last 52 games overall and 47-19 in their last 66 Sunday games while the over is 5-1-1 in their last 7 home games against a team with a losing record.
The Twins have this weird habit of providing value when it’s least expected, but I’m not trusting Griffin Jax to get us that value as he’s been getting hit around for much of the season when he takes the hill. Luis Patino hasn’t been a world beater, but he’s pitched well all things considered and the Rays are the better team with more at stake here. Give me Tampa Bay -1.5 here.
