Minnesota @ Oakland
Going against hot teams in baseball at home is a quick way to go broke so tread lightly on this pick because I like the Twins. The A?s start southpaw Otman but a look at the numbers will show the Twins can hit left handed pitching. They hit .279 overall against lefthanders which is ten points higher than they hit against right handed pitching. Outman has been winning games but he puts some runners on as the opposition hits .326 against him when he starts at home. He has only pitched past the 6th inning once in the last ten starts and that is where the problems may sit in because the A?s bullpen has had its share of problems. The ERA for the pen in the last three starts has been over 7 and they will play a role in tonight?s game. The line for this game is just too high for a team that is just one game above .500 at home. The A?s are just 6-13 in the first game of a series this year. The Twins do not flourish on the road but with strong hitting and a better bullpen I like to back them here.
Minnesota +141
Under 8.5 +100
These pitchers have and only two hitters in the lineup have ever seen these pitchers. When this happens you can expect a few innings where the hitters are getting a feel for how these pitchers throw. The under is 13-3-2 in Twins last 18 games as a road underdog and the under is 12-3 in Athletics last 15 overall. This ballpark is always conducive for a game to go under with wide lanes in foul territory.
~Matt
Going against hot teams in baseball at home is a quick way to go broke so tread lightly on this pick because I like the Twins. The A?s start southpaw Otman but a look at the numbers will show the Twins can hit left handed pitching. They hit .279 overall against lefthanders which is ten points higher than they hit against right handed pitching. Outman has been winning games but he puts some runners on as the opposition hits .326 against him when he starts at home. He has only pitched past the 6th inning once in the last ten starts and that is where the problems may sit in because the A?s bullpen has had its share of problems. The ERA for the pen in the last three starts has been over 7 and they will play a role in tonight?s game. The line for this game is just too high for a team that is just one game above .500 at home. The A?s are just 6-13 in the first game of a series this year. The Twins do not flourish on the road but with strong hitting and a better bullpen I like to back them here.
Minnesota +141
Under 8.5 +100
These pitchers have and only two hitters in the lineup have ever seen these pitchers. When this happens you can expect a few innings where the hitters are getting a feel for how these pitchers throw. The under is 13-3-2 in Twins last 18 games as a road underdog and the under is 12-3 in Athletics last 15 overall. This ballpark is always conducive for a game to go under with wide lanes in foul territory.
~Matt
