In this article we will formulate a Twins vs Rays prediction for this MLB game on Saturday, April 4th at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Minnesota Twins Betting Preview
The Minnesota Twins are 3-4 this year after they won game one against the Rays by a score of 10-4 on Friday afternoon. Minnesota trailed 3-0 in the fourth inning, but they answered with 10 straight runs to get the lopsided win. The Twins recorded seven hits in the game and they were led by Gray, who went 1-2 with one home run and five RBIs. Ober allowed four hits and three earned runs over 4.0 innings in the no decision, while Funderburk got the win in relief.
This season, Minnesota has a 4.27 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP and a .261 opponent batting average, while they have scored 36 runs with a .218 batting average and a .328 on base percentage. Josh Bell has led the Twins with two home runs and seven RBIs, while Tristan Gray has added one home run and eight RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Minnesota is Mick Abel, who is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA and a 3.60 WHIP over 3.1 innings pitched this year.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays are 2-5 this season after they dropped game one in this series by a score of 10-4 on Friday. Tampa Bay scored two runs in the first inning and added one more in the fourth, before their pitching fell apart in the blowout loss. The Rays recorded eight hits and they committed three errors, while they were led by Fortes, who went 1-3 with two RBIs in the game. Boyle allowed four hits and two earned runs over 5.1 innings, while Kelly allowed five earned runs for the loss.
This season, Tampa Bay has a 5.92 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and a .251 opponent batting average, while they have scored 34 runs with a .268 batting average and a .333 on base percentage. Yandy Diaz has led the Rays with two home runs and eight RBIs, while Jonny DeLuca has added one home run and four RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Steven Matz, who is 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP over 5.0 innings pitched this season.
Why the Minnesota Twins will win
- The Twins have won each of their last seven games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- The Rays have lost eight of their last nine road games against American League opponents.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games against AL Central opponents following a loss.
- The Twins have covered the run line each of their last seven games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- The Rays have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last five games as road underdogs against American League opponents.
- The Rays have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four night games against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Twins have lost each of their last 10 games as favorites against American League opponents.
- The Rays have won four of their last five games as road underdogs against the Twins following a loss.
- The Twins have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 11 games as favorites.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Rays’ last nine games at Target Field.
- The Twins have lost the first inning in six of their last seven home games.
- The Twins have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last five games as favorites against American League opponents.
- The Twins have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games as favorites.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Rays’ last eight games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Twins’ last four night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 12 of the Rays’ last 13 night games.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in seven of the Twins’ last eight games.
Minnesota Twins Player Prop Facts
- Josh Bell has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances in night games.
- Josh Bell has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Yandy Diaz has hit a home run in two of the Rays’ last three games as underdogs.
- Steven Matz has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his last four road appearances against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Gavin Lux has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven road appearances.
Twins vs Rays Prediction
Minnesota was able to explode at the plate to get the win in game one on Friday and they have scored 24 runs in their last three games. The Twins are starting Abel, who struggled in his first appearance, but this will be his first start of the year. Tampa Bay has lost three games in a row and they have allowed 24 runs in those three losses. I can’t trust the Rays pitching staff right now, especially against a Minnesota lineup that is heating up, so I will back the Twins in this one.