Toronto Blue Jays vs Minnesota Twins Prediction, 8/31/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs Minnesota Twins

Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024

Location: Target Field in Minneapolis, MN

TV: Bally Sports North

The Minnesota Twins (72-61) will try to beat the Toronto Blue Jays (65-70) at Target Field on Saturday. The pitchers taking the mound are Jose Berrios and Zebby Matthews.

As a unit, the Toronto Blue Jays are notching 4.2 runs per game, which has them sitting at 22nd in baseball. They are sitting with 567 runs scored and have an on-base percentage of .312. The Blue Jays have hit 236 doubles as a unit and have smacked 136 balls out of the park. They have earned 539 runs batted in and 1,072 hits over the course of the season, and their team batting average comes in at .239. Toronto has a slugging % of .392 and have struck out 1,019 times, while taking a walk on 430 occasions.

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The Blue Jays have compiled a team earned run average of 4.42 for the season (25th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 1,112 batters. Blue Jays pitchers have allowed 184 long balls and 633 runs in total (25th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 414 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.50 as a unit over the course of the season. Toronto has surrendered 1,114 base hits (8.4 per 9 innings) as well as 584 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.69 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.29.

The Blue Jays relief pitchers have recorded a save rate of 69.4% and has stepped onto the mound in 123 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 204 base runners for the year and 31.4% of those players ended up scoring. Blue Jays relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with opponents on base 130 times in addition to having 101 appearances in high leverage situations. The Blue Jays have dispatched 449 relievers to the mound on the campaign. The bullpen have accumulated 71 holds on the year (13th in MLB). They have accumulated 34 saves on the campaign and have not converted 15 of their 49 save chances.

The Toronto Blue Jays have a total of 3,565 putouts on the year, as well as 1,115 assists and 78 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .984 which has them sitting 23rd in baseball, and have accumulated 101 double plays. The Blue Jays have transformed 70.2% of balls in play into outs in their 10,695 innings, which ranks them 12th in professional baseball.

Berrios (96-75 career win-loss record) is the owner of a FIP of 4.04 while going up against 5,797 opposing batters during his time in the majors. He has allowed 1,292 base knocks (8.4 hits per nine innings) and has 409 walks. His earned run average is 4.10 (627 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.235. Berrios has pitched in 1,377 innings and has earned 1,319 punch outs in his career.

The Minnesota Twins have accounted for an OBP of .322 as well as a team batting average of .253 on the year. They have struck out on 1,074 instances (21st in the league) and have notched a total of 1,144 base hits. Minnesota has knocked in 162 home runs this season as well as 611 RBIs. The Twins hold a slugging percentage of .428 and they average 4.86 runs per contest (7th in baseball). They have put up 264 doubles, while getting a free base 394 times as well as scoring 646 runs.

The Twins hold a team WHIP of 1.180 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.83 as a staff over the course of the season. They sit at 6th in baseball as a staff in total hits allowed with 1,048. The Minnesota pitching staff have allowed 583 runs on the season while holding a team ERA of 4.12 (540 earned runs relinquished). Their K/BB ratio comes in at 9.20 (1,208 strikeouts vs 343 walks). They have given up 154 dingers and they allow 4.45 runs per 9 innings (16th in baseball).

With 130 save situations, the Twins have recorded 77 holds in addition to 16 blown saves. Minnesota has had bullpen pitchers step onto the mound in 52 save chances and they have walked away with 36 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 159 times in high leverage situations and on 101 occasions with runners on. Minnesota bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 45.0% out of their 149 inherited runners. They rank 4th in baseball with a save percentage of 69.2%, and they have sent 429 relief pitchers onto the field for the season.

Out of their 10,617 innings on the diamond, the Twins have a defensive efficiency of 70.6% (8th in pro baseball). The Minnesota Twins have turned 58 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .987 (7th in MLB). The Twins have accrued 1,001 assists, 61 errors and have earned a total of 3,539 putouts this season.

So far in his career, Matthews has allowed 13 hits while he has tallied 13 punch outs in 15 frames. He has given up a total of 5 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.000 and having a FIP of 3.0. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 6.50 and he has gone up against 62 hitters in his MLB career. Matthews (1-1 career mark) has earned a 3.00 ERA while giving up 7.8 hits per nine innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Toronto

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