Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
It’s the first full week in September, and the best two teams in the American League Central will start a series on Monday. It’s the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Guardians. The Twins are coming off a loss on Sunday to Texas. The loss dropped them to 71-66 on the season.
Minnesota is the only team in the American League Central with a plus run differential of +51. Cleveland lost their game on Sunday to Tampa Bay at home. The Guardians had won the first two games of the series with ten runs total. The loss dropped them to 66-71 on the season, and they remain five games back in the American League Central.
The Minnesota Twins are favorites despite being on the road in this game. Minnesota is listed at -135 over the Guardians on Monday.
First-place Minnesota Twins
Pablo Lopez is going to get the start for the Minnesota Twins. Lopez is still seeking his 10th win on the season. The 27-year-old is 9-7 with a 3.72 earned run average. Lopez is coming off a loss to the Guardians in his last start. On August 29th, he allowed eight hits and three runs in six innings.
Royce Lewis hit his 10th home run of the season in the fifth, and Carlos Correa tied the game in the 7th. After a Lewis RBI in the 8th, the Rangers needed an Adolis Garcia to walk it off on Sunday.
The Twins, with the loss, continue to struggle on the road. They have won just 31 of 68 games away from home. The Twins are scoring more than seven runs per game over their last four wins. On the season, Minnesota ranks 15th in runs scored, with Carlos Correa leading the way with 60.
Minnesota is looking to wrap up the American League Central title, and their 2023 season will finish after this series with six home games against the Yankees and Rays before a four-game series at the White Sox and three at the Cincinnati Reds.
The final nine games for the Twins are at home against the Angels and Athletics, and then three on the road at Colorado.
Last Gasp for Cleveland?
For the Cleveland Guardians, Lucas Giolito will get the nod. The 29-year-old is familiar with the Twins after spending most of his career with the Chicago White Sox.
Giolito was traded to the Angels but then released at the end of August. He is 7-10 with a 4.45 earned run average. His final start with the Angels went 5.2 innings and allowed five earned runs.
The loss on Sunday saw Cleveland pick up just five hits in the game. Josh Naylor picked up his 80th RBI of the season in the game. Naylor is the top hitter on the team with a .305 batting average. The Guardians are one of the lowest-scoring teams in all of Major League Baseball, coming into this game ranked 26th.
Cleveland will wrap up their 2023 season after this with a four-game trip to the Angels, three in San Francisco, before coming back home and hosting the Texas Rangers, before going to Kansas City for three, and then coming back home for four against Baltimore and two against the Reds. The final series is a three-gamer at Detroit.
Lopez Deals and Wins on Monday
Pablo Lopez finally picked up his 10th win of the season. It has been a while, and the Twins would love to put a quick halt to the idea of the Guardians making a run for the division.
Giolito does not get the win in his first start with the team, and the Twins win. Betting the Minnesota Twins -135 over the Cleveland Guardians seems to be the bet to make in this game on Monday.
