Chicago Cubs (19-19) vs. Minnesota Twins (21-18)
May 14, 2023 2:10 pm EDT
The Line: Minnesota Twins -125 / Chicago Cubs +100; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Twins meet Sunday in MLB action from Target Field. This will be the finale in a three-game weekend series. Chicago took a four-run win in the opener, then on Saturday in game two the Twins evened it up with a dominant victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs came back from an early 2-0 hole in the Friday game and eventually pulled off the 6-2 victory. On Saturday Chicago gave up 13 hits in an 11-1 blowout loss. Starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski put up 5.0 innings with seven earned on seven hits and a walk.
For the Sunday game starter, the Cubs will send out Marcus Stroman. In his eight starts so far Stroman is 2-3 with a 2.28 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 47.1 innings. Stroman is 69-70 with a 3.56 career ERA in 212 games (206 starts).
Minnesota Twins
Over on the Minnesota side, they were out-hit 11-4 in the Friday game one and couldn’t score after the second inning. In game two the Twins scored four runs in the third and three more in the eighth on the way to the victory. Joe Ryan managed 6.0 clean frames in the start with four hits, one walk and 10 Ks.
Louie Varland will make the start for the Twins on Sunday. Over his three starts this year Varland has a 4.32 ERA without a decision and 20 Ks in 16.2 frames. Varland is 1-2 with a 4.01 ERA in eight career starts.
The Cubs are 4-10 in their last 14 versus a right-handed starter and 5-13 in their last 18 versus the AL Central. Chicago is 7-19 in their last 26 Sunday games.
Meanwhile, the Twins are 5-2 in their last seven at home versus a right-handed starter and the under is 4-1 in their last five Sunday games. The under is 7-3-1 in Minnesota’s last 11 in game three of a series.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with the Cubs in this one. Stroman is pitching well these days with five earned over his last three starts in 18.1 innings total. He’s just 0-1 in that trio however, so the Cubs will need to get Stroman some help on the scoreboard. On Saturday Chicago had a pretty miserable game on both sides, but the bullpen did okay overall (outside of Brad Boxberger’s 0.2 innings and three earned runs). A good start from Stroman should go a long way in this finale.
