Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Tropicana Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ervin Santana (2-4) vs. Nathan Karns (7-5)

The Minnesota Twins head to Tropicana Field on Tuesday to take on the Tampa Bay Rays. The Twins send Ervin Santana to the mound to face Nathan Karns of the Rays. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota at +128 and Tampa Bay at -138. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Twins have a 57-59 over/under record and a 73-51 run line mark, meaning they cover 59% of the time. The Rays are 69-55 against the run line and have a 54-61 over/under record. They cover the spread 56% of the time.

The Twins head into this matchup with a 63-61 record, including 25-37 on the road. Ervin Santana has an earned run average of 5.53 and is 2-4 so far on the season while having a 1.43 WHIP. The Twins are 3-6 over his 55.1 innings pitched and he's also given up 59 hits over that time period. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 4-5. His teammates are averaging 3.9 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 4.04 and they've given up 372 hits on the season. Opposing teams are hitting .251 against the Twins bullpen while walking 119 times and striking out 282 times. Minnesota is averaging 6.23 strikeouts per game while getting 9.52 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 22nd in baseball in team earned run average at 4.17.

Minnesota ranks 22nd in the league in team batting average at .248 while hitting .226 on the road. Ranked at 29th in the league in on-base percentage, the Twins sit at .302 and they hold a .398 team slugging percentage. Joe Mauer leads the team in hits with 122 while the team ranks 22nd in baseball with 8.35 hits per game.

With a 30-29 home record, Tampa Bay will hope to improve on their 62-62 overall mark. Nathan Karns is starting this game 7-5 for the season with an earned run average of 3.44 and a WHIP of 1.24. The Rays have a record of 11-13 over the 136 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 118 hits. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 11-12. His teammates score an average of 3.3 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 3.83 and they have given up 357 hits on the season. Opposing teams are hitting .232 against the Rays bullpen while walking 148 times and striking out 390 times. Tampa Bay is averaging 8.38 strikeouts per game while getting 7.97 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 9th in the league in team earned run average at 3.63.

They rank 24th in the league in team batting average with a .246 average while hitting .243 at home. Ranked at 19th in the league in on-base percentage, the Rays sit at .309 and they hold a .391 team slugging percentage. Evan Longoria leads the team in hits with 123 while the team ranks 26th in baseball with 8.25 hits a game.

The Twins have committed 65 errors and have combined for 1,264 assists and 3,297 put outs leading to a .986 team fielding percentage. The Rays have committed 72 errors on the season with 1084 assists and 3,327 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .984 on the year.

Minnesota Twins Betting Trends

The Minnesota Twins are 57-59 against the over/under so far this season

The Minnesota Twins are 73-51 against the run line so far this season

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 54-61 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 69-55 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Minnesota Twins

08/20/15 CF Aaron Hicks Hamstring Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/20)
08/14/15 P Blaine Boyer Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/9)
08/13/15 P Phil Hughes Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/10)
06/04/15 P Ricky Nolasco Ankle Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/1)
05/16/15 CF Jordan Schafer Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/16)

Tampa Bay Rays

08/21/15 P Jake McGee Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/19)
08/01/15 RF Steven Souza Hand Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/2)
05/09/15 P Alex Cobb Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season
04/29/15 P Kirby Yates Pectoral Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/29)
04/18/15 P Jeff Beliveau Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/22), out for season

Tony's Pick: Take the Twins

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