Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins Game 1 odds, picks and prediction
The Cleveland Indians (69-72) and Minnesota Twins (63-81) are lined up for a Tuesday doubleheader at Target Field in Minneapolis. The opener of the twin bill and three-game series is slated for 3:10 p.m. ET. Let's analyze the lines around the Indians vs. Twinsodds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Triston McKenzie is the projected starting pitcher for the Indians. Through 21 games (20 starts), McKenzie is 4-6 with a 4.44 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 10.5 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 through 103 1/3 IP.
- Allowed 1 run across 6 IP against Minnesota Wednesday. Current Twins batters own a small-sample .556 OPS against him.
- Clocked a 1.00 ERA and 0.41 WHIP across his last four starts.
RHP Joe Ryan is the projected starting pitcher for the Twins. He is a rookie making his third start after posting a 3.41 ERA and 0.79 WHIP across 66 innings in Triple-A this summer. Through two starts for the Twins, he has allowed 3 ER over 12 IP, walking 1 and striking out 9.
- Pitched 7 scoreless innings with one hit allowed at Cleveland on Wednesday.
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Indians at Twins odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:20 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Indians +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Twins -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Indians +1.5 (-220) | Twins -1.5 (+175)
- Over/Under: 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -125)
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Prediction
Twins 5, Indians 3
Money line (ML)
Cleveland had an off day Monday, and it was likely a much-needed one. The Indians have gone just 2-8 over their last 10 games and scored just 2.9 runs per game on a .578 OPS over that spell. Those 10 games include four against these Twins and Cleveland dropped three of four against Minnesota Sept. 6-9.
Minnesota dropped a Monday makeup game at Yankee Stadium, which was a one-day trip after losing two of three to the Kansas City Royals over the weekend. The Twins head into Tuesday's double-dip having lost four of their last five games. Their offense - a top-third group for most of this season - has produced a mere .690 OPS since Aug. 19.
The Twins have taken 10 of 16 games from the Indians this season and are the lean on the money line; however, the price is attractive enough on the run line to make that the value play. PASS.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Cleveland is 1-5 in its last six series openers.
The Twins are plus-24 in their season run differential against the Indians. All three of Minnesota's wins against Cleveland last week were by 3 runs.
McKenzie's recent success has been somewhat built on a beneficial batting average on balls in play (.180 BABIP since June 1). The righty-righty matchup favors the home nine from a platoon standpoint with Minnesota possessing a .747 OPS against right-handed pitching).
BACK THE TWINS -1.5 (+175).
Over/Under (O/U)
There's some tilt against the pitchers here and some afternoon weather which includes an outward breeze and both starters are fly-ball types.
TAKE THE OVER 6.5 (+100).
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