The Twins just lost a series on the South Side of Chicago and now head North for a three-game series with the Cubs at Wrigley Field starting Friday night. Both these teams are headed for the playoffs, so this is a possible preview of an upcoming World Series match-up. How are we playing Friday’s game for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Friday’s MLB betting odds opened Chicago and Hendricks at around -130 over Minnesota and Hill, while holding off on posting a total, as they so often do with Cubs home games. That price was holding steady in the early betting action.
Twins vs. Cubs Set-Up
Minnesota just dropped three of four games in Chicago to the rival White Sox, losing Thursday’s series finale 4-3. But just before that, the Twins swept three games from rival Cleveland.
At 31-21, overall, Minnesota trails the division-leading ChiSox by three games in the AL Central, but it’s also three games clear of the third-place Indians. And second place makes the playoffs this season.
Meanwhile, Chicago just took two games at home from the Indians by scores of 6-5 Tuesday and 3-2 Wednesday. The Cubs then enjoyed Thursday off.
Before that, Chicago took two of three games from Milwaukee, and just before that, it took two of three from Cincinnati. Going back a bit further, the Cubs are 7-2 over their last nine games.
At 30-20 overall, Chicago leads the NL Central by 5.5 games over second-place Cincinnati, and it only trails San Diego by a game and a half in the battle for the No. 2 spot in the National League.
This meeting is the first match between these two teams since 2018 when the Cubs swept three games from the Twins at Wrigley.
Friday’s Starting Arms
Hendricks is a solid 7/10 on quality starts this season, working on a run of three in a row. Last Saturday, he held Milwaukee to two runs and six hits through 7 2/3 innings of a 4-2 Cubs win. And over his last three starts, he’s allowed just four runs and 19 hits through 21 2/3 innings.
Chicago is 6-4 with Hendricks this season, 3-0 over his last three starts.
This will be Hendricks’ first start against the Twins since 2015, and that’s a long time ago.
Lefty Hill is 0/6 on quality starts this year, but part of that is due to a short leash. Last Saturday, he limited Cleveland to two runs and four hits through five innings of an 8-4 Minnesota victory. And over his last four starts, he’s allowed seven runs and 17 hits through 18 1/3 innings.
For the season, the Twins, a team that’s ten games over .500 overall, are only 2-4 with Hill, 1-4 over his last five starts, although that’s not all his fault.
Over his last three starts against the Cubs, one each in 2017-18-19 while with the Dodgers, Hill allowed four runs through 18 innings. Los Angeles won two of those three games.
Friday’s Batting Splits
Minnesota is batting .245 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .322 team OBP and a .464 team slugging percentage. The Twins have also scored a total of just 11 runs over their last four games.
Chicago is batting a meager .208/.318/.330 against left-handed pitching this season.
- Get more details: Twins vs. Cubs Match-up Stats
The Bullpens
The Minnesota bullpen owns a 3.70 ERA this season and a 1.27 WHIP.
The Cubs pen owns a 4.33 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.
MLB Betting Trends
- Minnesota is just 11-16 on the road this season.
- The Cubs are 16-11 at home this season.
- Minnesota is 23-14 against right-handed starters this season.
- The Cubs are 6-3 vs. left-handed starters this season.
Totals Report
- Unders are a lopsided 34-16 in Twins games this season.
- Overs are 25-24 in Cubs games this season.
- Unders are 16-11 in games played at Wrigley Field this season.
- Overs are a combined 10-6 when Hendricks and Hill start this season.
