Chicago Cubs vs Minnesota Twins Prediction, 5/14/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Minnesota Twins

Date: Sunday, May 14, 2023

Location: Target Field in Minneapolis, MN

TV: Bally Sports North

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+160) Minnesota (-190)

Target Field is the site where the Minnesota Twins (21-18) will go up against the Chicago Cubs (19-19) on Sunday. The odds on this game have the Cubs at +160 and the Twins are opening at -190. The total has been set at 7.5. The expected starting pitchers are Marcus Stroman and Louie Varland.

Chicago owns a slugging percentage of .431 and have been called out on strikes 328 times, while being walked on 139 occasions. They have compiled 182 runs batted in as well as 356 hits so far this year, while their batting average sits at .270. The Cubs have tallied 64 doubles as a unit and have hit 46 balls out of the park. They have accounted for 189 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .344. As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are scoring 5.0 runs per contest, which has them at 9th in baseball.

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Their K/BB ratio is 2.86 and their pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.14. Cubs pitchers have yielded 31 home runs in addition to 137 runs in total (2nd in baseball). Chicago has given up 278 base knocks (7.4 per 9 innings) and 128 earned runs. The Cubs have a team ERA of 3.38 on the campaign (5th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 318 batters. They have walked 111 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 3.70 as a team on the campaign.

The Cubs relief pitchers have recorded a save rate of 55.6% and has entered the game in 29 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 33 runners for the season with 21.2% of those players ended up scoring. Cubs relief pitchers have entered the game with runners on 23 times as well as having 30 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 119 relievers to the hill on the campaign. The bullpen are sitting with 20 holds for the season (15th in baseball). They have recorded 5 saves for the year and have blown 4 of 9 save chances.

The Cubs have turned 71.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of 3,066 innings, which ranks them 4th in the majors. The Chicago Cubs have earned 1,022 putouts over the course of the season, in addition to 364 assists and 16 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .989 which is 9th in pro baseball, and have accumulated 38 double plays.

Stroman has taken the mound for 1,214 innings and has 1,016 strikeouts in his pro baseball career. His ERA is 3.56 (481 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.244. He has surrendered 1,170 hits (8.7 hits per nine innings) and has had 341 free passes. Stroman (69-70 win-loss record in his career) sits with a FIP of 3.63 while he has gone up against 5,034 opposing batters during his time in the majors.

The Twins have a team slugging % of .381 and they average 4.21 runs per contest (22nd in MLB). They have put up 58 doubles, while walking 131 times as well as earning 164 runs. Minnesota has accumulated 47 HRs on the campaign and 157 runs batted in. They have struck out on 367 instances (3rd in the league) and have recorded 281 base knocks. The Minnesota Twins have an on-base percentage of .298 as well as a batting average of .218 on the season.

The Minnesota pitching staff have surrendered 144 runs on the season and come in with a team ERA of 3.36 (131 earned runs given up). They have allowed 36 long balls and they surrender 3.69 runs per 9 innings (3rd in the league). The Twins are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.142 with a FIP of 3.52 as a squad this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 9.80 (381 strikeouts against 115 walks). They have a ranking of 3rd in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 286.

Minnesota has called on relievers to take the mound in 19 save opportunities and they have walked away with 11 saves. They are currently ranked 21st in the league with a save rate of 57.9%, and they have dispatched 113 relief pitchers onto the diamond so far this season. Their relievers have taken the field 43 times in high leverage situations in addition to 23 occasions with base runners. Minnesota bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 31.8% of 22 inherited base runners. With 43 save situations, the Twins have accrued 24 holds and also 8 blown saves.

The Minnesota Twins have turned 26 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .984 (22nd in the majors). The Twins have recorded 305 assists, 22 errors and have notched a total of 1,054 putouts so far this year. In their 3,162 innings on the diamond, the Twins are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 70.6% (9th in MLB).

Varland (1-2 career win-loss record) is the owner of a 4.01 earned run average and has conceded 9.3 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.73 and he has faced 177 batters in his pro baseball career. He has allowed 19 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.289 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.6. In his pro baseball career, Varland has conceded 44 base hits while he has totaled 41 punch outs in 42 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Minnesota (-190)

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