Friday, May 6, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ricky Nolasco vs. Mat Latos

The Minnesota Twins visit U.S. Cellular Field on Friday to play the Chicago White Sox. The probable starters are Ricky Nolasco for the Twins and Mat Latos for the White Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota at +130 and Chicago at -140. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Twins have a 13-13-2 over/under record and a 12-16-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 43% of the time. The White Sox are 16-12-0 against the run line and have a 8-17-3 over/under record. They cover the spread 57% of the time.

The Twins head into this matchup with a 8-20 record, including 2-12 on the road. Starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco has a 1-0 record with an earned run average of 4.05 and a WHIP of 0.99. He has 28 strikeouts over his 33.1 innings pitched and he has given up 30 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.1 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.22. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.93 and they have given up 99 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .251 against the bullpen while being struck out 105 times and walking 43 times this season. As a team, Minnesota has allowed 9.28 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.16 batters per nine. They are 22nd in the league in team earned run average at 4.51. The Twins pitchers have collectively given up 257 base hits and 125 earned runs. They have allowed 35 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Minnesota as a pitching staff has walked 92 batters and struck out 226. They walk 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.40 and their FIP as a unit is 4.26.

As a team, Minnesota is batting .242, good for 19th in the league while putting together a .228 average away from home. The Twins hold a .382 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .310 which is good for 21st in baseball. They rank 15th in baseball with 8.32 hits per game. Joe Mauer comes into this game hitting .323 and his on-base percentage is at .447. He has 32 hits this season along with 10 runs scored and 9 runs batted in. He's struck out 11 times and has walked 22 times. Eduardo Nunez is hitting .379 and he has an on-base percentage of .425. He has totaled 25 hits so far while scoring 11 runs and he's driven in 10. He has walked 3 times and has struck out 11 times. The Twins have 233 hits, including 50 doubles and 25 home runs. They've stolen 17 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 6 times. Minnesota has walked 91 times this season and they've struck out 249 times as a unit. They've left 209 men on base and have a team OPS of .692. They score 3.54 runs per contest and have scored a total of 99 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 7-4 home record and a 19-9 overall mark. With an earned run average of 1.84, Mat Latos has a 4-0 record and a 1.09 WHIP. He has 15 strikeouts over the 29.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 24 hits. He has allowed 7.4 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.3. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 1.75 and they have given up 55 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .199 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 70 times and walking 24 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 7.45 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.77 batters per nine. They are 3rd in the league in team earned run average at 2.67. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 206 base knocks and 74 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 19 home runs this year and they give up 0.7 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 76 hitters and struck out 215. They give up a walk 2.7 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.8 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.13 while their FIP as a staff is 3.33.

As a team, they are batting .238, good for 21st in the league while putting together a .208 average at home. The White Sox hold a .379 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .311 which is good for 20th in baseball. They rank 21st in baseball with 7.86 hits per contest. Adam Eaton comes into this matchup batting .283 and he has an OBP of .358. He has 30 hits this year along with 11 runs scored and 6 RBI. He's struck out 15 times and has walked on 9 occasions. Melky Cabrera is hitting .287 and he has an OBP of .363. He has collected 29 hits so far while he's scored 14 runs and drove in 8. He has earned a walk 12 times and has punched out 8 times. The White Sox as a unit have 220 base hits, including 40 doubles and 26 homers. They have 10 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 7 times. Chicago as a team has walked 90 times this year and they have struck out 202 times. They've had 190 men left on base and have an OPS of .690. They score 3.86 runs per game and have totaled 108 runs so far this season.

Minnesota Twins Betting Trends

The Minnesota Twins are 13-13-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Minnesota Twins are 12-16-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 8-17-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 16-12-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Minnesota Twins

04/27/16 P Ervin Santana Back 15-day DL (4/20), expected to be activated & start Saturday vs. Chicago White Sox
04/27/16 P Kyle Gibson Shoulder 15-day DL (4/23)
04/13/16 P Glen Perkins Shoulder 15-day DL (4/11)

Chicago White Sox

05/05/16 RF Avisail Garcia Hamstring is upgraded to expected to be in the starting lineup Thursday vs. Boston Red Sox
04/27/16 C Kevan Smith Pelvis 15-day DL (4/24)
04/24/16 C Alex Avila Hamstring 15-day DL (4/24)

Tony's Pick: Take the White Sox

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