Chicago Cubs (18-19) vs. Minnesota Twins (21-17)
May 13, 2023 2:10 pm EDT
The Line: Minnesota Twins -200 / Chicago Cubs +155; Over/Under: +7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Twins meet Saturday in MLB action from Target Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series. On Friday in the opener, the Cubs took a four-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs took on the Cardinals this week, losing two of three games in that series. On Friday versus the Twins, Chicago scored three runs in the ninth inning in a 6-2 comeback victory. Starter Drew Smyly finished with 6.0 innings, four hits, two earned and a walk.
For the starter job in the Saturday matchup, the Cubs will send out Hayden Wesneski. Over his seven starts this year Wesneski is 2-1 with a 3.93 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 34.1 innings. Wesneski is 5-3 with a 3.07 ERA over 13 career games (11 starts).
Minnesota Twins
Over on the Twins’ side, they played the Padres in their last series and managed two wins in three games. On Friday Minnesota held a 2-0 lead after the second inning but couldn’t hold on after just four team hits. Sonny Gray managed 5.1 innings, four hits, one earned and a walk in the start.
As starting pitcher on Saturday the Twins are going with Joe Ryan. Over seven starts in 2023 Ryan has a 2.45 ERA and a 5-1 record. Ryan has 47 strikeouts in 44.0 innings. In his career, he’s got a 3.39 ERA and a 20-10 record in 39 starts.
The Cubs are 3-9 in their last 12 Saturday games and 1-4 in their last five in game two of a series. The under is 12-4 in Chicago’s last 16 on grass.
Meanwhile, the Twins are 7-3 in their last 10 in game two of a series and 0-4 in their last four Saturday games. The under is 5-2 in Minnesota’s last seven Saturday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’m going with the Twins but staying away. We should have a nice starter matchup here regardless, though. Ryan is on a nice run these days, notching 19.0 innings with three earned on 16 hits and two walks over his last three starts. As for Wesneski, he’s pitching well himself with three earned on 14 hits and a walk in 17.0 innings over his last three starts. In the Friday opener, Minnesota had very little going offensively but still managed to hang around until late in the game. If the Twins can get the bats going early in game two, they should be in good shape for a revenge victory.
