Minnesota Twins vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction, 5/18/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Minnesota Twins vs Cleveland Guardians

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024

Location: Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH

TV: Bally Sports Great Lakes

Odds/Point Spread: Minnesota (+102) Cleveland (-120)

Progressive Field is the location where the Cleveland Guardians (27-17) will try to defeat the Minnesota Twins (24-19) on Saturday. The moneyline on this contest has the Twins at +102 and the Guardians are coming in at -120. The over/under comes in at 8.5. The starting pitchers are Bailey Ober and Logan Allen.

As a team, the Minnesota Twins are scoring 4.6 runs per game, which has them sitting at 12th in MLB. They have a total of 196 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .305. The Twins have hit 87 two-baggers as a squad and have smacked 45 baseballs out of the park. They have accrued 183 runs batted in and 338 base knocks for the year, and their average at the plate is .234. Minnesota has a slugging % of .397 and have struck out 380 times, while taking a walk on 125 occasions.

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Their K/BB ratio is 3.79 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.23. Twins pitchers have surrendered 50 home runs and also 182 runs (13th in MLB). Minnesota has surrendered 360 base hits (8.5 per 9 innings) as well as 171 earned runs. The Twins have a team ERA of 4.03 so far this season (17th in the league), and the staff has rung up 417 batters. They have walked 110 hitters and their FIP is 3.64 as a team this season.

The Twins relievers have recorded a save rate of 66.7% and stepped onto the hill in 55 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 60 runners for the season and 45.0% of those players ended up crossing the plate. Twins bullpen pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 38 times as well as having 49 appearances in high leverage situations. The Twins have dispatched 137 relief pitchers to the hill on the campaign. The relief pitchers are sitting with 33 holds so far this year (2nd in baseball). They have recorded 14 saves on the year and have blown 7 of their 21 chances to get a save.

The Minnesota Twins have accumulated 1,147 putouts so far this season, in addition to 307 assists and 15 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .990 which has them ranked 2nd in professional baseball, and have 21 double plays. The Twins have turned 68.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of 3,441 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 23rd in MLB.

Ober (17-13 career record) has earned a FIP of 3.85 and he has faced 1,347 hitters in the major leagues. He has surrendered 295 hits (7.9 hits per nine innings) and has 67 walks. His earned run average is 3.65 (136 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.078. Ober has taken the ball for 335 innings and has accounted for 338 strikeouts so far in his MLB career.

The Guardians hold a slugging percentage of .387 and they are scoring 4.75 runs per contest (8th in the league). They have put up 69 two-baggers, while getting a free base 133 times and scoring 209 runs. Cleveland has 46 home runs this season to go along with 191 runs batted in. They have struck out on 333 occasions (26th in the league) and have recorded 346 hits. The Cleveland Guardians are sitting with an on-base percentage of .311 as well as a team batting average of .235 on the campaign.

The Guardians are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.207 with a FIP of 3.68 as a team for the year. They are currently ranked 11th in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 339. The Cleveland pitching staff have given up 161 runs over the course of the season while holding an ERA of 3.39 (149 earned runs conceded). Their K/BB ratio sits at 8.90 (393 strikeouts vs 139 free passes). They have allowed 41 home runs and they concede 3.66 runs per 9 innings (7th in the league).

Cleveland has had relievers enter the contest in 20 save opportunities and they have come away with 14 saves. They sit at 11th in the league with a save percentage of 70.0%, and they have sent 164 relievers to the mound this season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 63 times in high leverage situations in addition to 45 occasions with base runners. Cleveland bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 23.1% out of 52 inherited runners. With 51 save situations, the Guardians have 30 holds in addition to 6 blown saves.

Out of their 3,564 innings on the field, the Guardians have earned a defensive efficiency of 70.1% (16th in baseball). The Cleveland Guardians have turned 36 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .984 (12th in MLB). The Guardians have 381 assists, 25 errors and have 1,188 putouts for the year.

In his pro baseball career, Allen has conceded 136 base knocks and he has 77 strikeouts in 112 frames. He has given up 70 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.607 and a FIP of 5.3. He has a K/BB ratio of 1.71 and he has gone up against 510 batters during his MLB career. Allen (5-11 career win-loss record) has a 5.59 earned run average while giving up 10.9 hits per 9 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Cleveland (-120)

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