The Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Tuesday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. Here’s a Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins prediction. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Rays vs Twins pick.
Minnesota Twins Betting Preview
The Twins took on the Toronto Blue Jays in their weekend set. Minnesota lost 15-0 Saturday but otherwise won the remaining pair for a series victory. On Monday in the opener versus the Rays, the Twins eked out a 5-4 win. Simeon Woods Richardson finished with 3.2 innings and three earned runs in the start.
In the starter slot for Tuesday, it’ll be David Festa. So far Festa is 2-4 with a 4.89 ERA in the first nine games (eight starts) of his career.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
Over on the Rays’ side, they played the San Diego Padres in their last series. Tampa Bay won 11-4 in game two but fell in the others. On Monday the Rays gave up three in the second inning. Starter Zack Littell finished with 4.0 innings and four earned.
Jeffrey Springs will make the start for the Rays on Tuesday. This year Springs is 1-2 with a 3.67 ERA in six starts. In 144 career games (36 starts) Springs is 22-12 with a 3.42 ERA. The Rays will meet the Orioles after this series.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Rays have won each of their last nine games as home favorites following a home loss.
- The Twins have lost five of their last six night games at Tropicana Field following a win.
- The Twins have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games after playing the previous day.
- The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last seven home games after playing the previous day.
- The Twins have lost the first inning in each of their last three games against AL East opponents.
Why the Minnesota Twins will win
- The Rays have lost seven of their last eight night games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Twins have won seven of their last eight night games against American League opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the last six games between the Twins and Rays.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six games as favorites against American League opponents.
- The Rays have lost the first inning in three of their last four games as favorites.
- The Rays have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last nine home night games.
- The Rays have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four games as favorites against American League opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Nine of the Rays’ last 10 games as favorites against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Twins’ last five road games has gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last eight games as home favorites against AL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Twins’ last three games.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins Prediction
I’m leaning toward the Rays. It’s going to depend on the starters, though. Springs had a rough outing versus Oakland on August 22 with three earned in 3.1 innings. He came back with 5.0 clean frames versus Seattle, though. As for Festa, he’s given up five earned in 9.2 innings over his last pair, going 0-2 in those games.
On Monday the Rays had 10 team hits but couldn’t overcome the early deficit. The bullpen is going to need a better effort behind Springs Tuesday if Tampa wants to even the series.