The Indians are chasing the Twins in the AL Central race and have a chance to finally track them down this weekend when the teams meet for a four-game series in Minneapolis, beginning Thursday night. Which way are we going here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Thursday’s MLB betting odds opened Minnesota at around -110 over Cleveland, with an over/under of 9.5 runs. Early betting action then eased this game down to a pick ’em.
Indians vs. Twins Set-Up
Cleveland just took two of three games at home from Texas, sweeping a series-ending doubleheader Wednesday by scores of 2-0 and 5-1. Just before that the Indians swept three games from the Angels. So Cleveland is 5-1 over its last six games.
Minnesota, meanwhile, just dropped two of three games at home to Atlanta, losing Wednesday’s series rubber match 11-7. But just before that the Twins swept three games from Kansas City, and just before that they took two of three from Miami. Going back a bit further Minnesota is 9-4 over its last 13 games.
At 70-44 overall the Twins lead the AL Central by two games over the 68-46 Tribe. But Minnesota is also now five games back of Houston in the battle for the No. 2 seed in the upcoming American League playoffs.
Cleveland, meanwhile, also leads the American League wild-card race by three games over second-place Tampa Bay.
The Twins lead the season series with the Tribe five games to four.
Thursday’s Starting Arms
This pitching match-up is a rematch of a game played a month ago in Cleveland, a 5-3 Minnesota victory. The Indians led that game 3-0 through six innings before the Twins rallied against the Cleveland bullpen.
Also, that game played under a total of nine runs.
Gibson, by our strict standards, is 9/22 on quality starts this season and three for his last four. Last Saturday he limited Kansas City to three runs – two earned – and four hits through 6 2/3 innings of an 11-3 Twins win. And just before that he held the White Sox to one run through six frames of an 11-1 Minnesota victory.
The Twins are 15-7 with Gibson this season, 4-1 over his last five starts.
Over his last six starts against the Indians, five last year and the one last month, Gibson allowed 16 ER and 29 hits through 32 2/3 innings. Minnesota split those six games.
Clevinger is 6/10 on quality starts this year, and three outs away from a run of six in a row. Last Friday he held the Angels to one run and three hits through 6 1/3 innings of a 7-3 Cleveland win. And over his last six starts, he’s allowed just seven runs and 30 hits through 37 1/3 innings, with 49 strikeouts.
The Indians are 7-3 with Clevinger this year, 4-0 over his last four starts.
Over his last four starts against the Twins, three last year and the one last month, Clevinger allowed just six ER and 20 hits through 24 2/3 innings. Cleveland split those four games.
Thursday’s Batting Splits
Minnesota is batting .264/.331/.493 against right-handed pitching this season. Numbers like those help this unit rank among the top half-dozen lineups in Baseball in this split.
Cleveland is batting .250/.323/.439 against RH pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The Twins bullpen owns a 4.51 ERA this season and a 1.38 WHIP while allowing a .751 OPS.
The Indians pen owns an ML-low 3.17 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP while allowing a .694 OPS. Numbers like those help this unit rank among the top two or three bullpens in Baseball.
Totals Report
- Unders are 63-48 in Indians games this season.
- Overs are 58-50 in Twins games this season.
- Overs are 28-28 in games played at Target Field this season.
- Unders are 6-3 in Indians-Twins games this season.
- Overs are a combined 18-13 with Gibson and Clevinger this season.
- Get more details: Indians at Twins MLB Match-up Stats
