Twins vs. Guardians Odds & Betting Predictions - September 16, 2024

Follow On X: https://x.com/PicksOffice The Twins just lately have been an offense who hasn't been consistent, as they come in averaging just 3.80 runs per game. A key contributor to the under here is Minnesota's struggles against left-handed pitching, as they are batting just .181 against them. Matthew Boyd will most likely hold the Minnesota offensive output to a minimum, considering he has pitched a great ERA of 2.18 on the season and a WHIP of 0.91, showing very strong control and run prevention. Pablo Lopez has been another big factor for the Twins in keeping games low-scoring. With a 3.88 ERA and inducing weak contact featuring a 1.65 ground ball-to-fly ball ratio, Lopez tends to minimize potentially big innings. In his last start against Cleveland, Lopez allowed 2 earned runs over 6 innings of work against a Guardians team that has really struggled against right-handed pitching this season, posting only 2.97 runs per game in those situations. Both teams enter this contest with recent trends heavily in favor of the under, as a mix of offenses that are either inconsistent or flat out ice cold has combined with strong pitching. The Guardians have certainly been stout enough on the bump, allowing just 2.80 runs per game over their last 10. This stoutness has helped contribute to an under streak, with the under hitting in eight of their last nine, good for an overall average in those games of only 6.00 combined runs. Specifically, the bullpen for Cleveland has been nothing short of dominant, pitching to a 1.51 ERA over its last 10 games while allowing very few late-game runs and further pushing totals under. The Cleveland offense has been underwhelming, hitting .217 overall and just .209 against lefties. Their slugging percentage of .348 is abysmally low, showing a lack of power that complements nicely with struggles to generate big offensive outbursts. Cleveland ranks just 14th in runs per game, while Minnesota isn't very far behind its back, coming in with a team batting average of just .216 over their last 10 games, so it's a good under. The low on-base percentages and high number of stranded runners add to the cause for a lower total with key opportunities continually being wasted. Both teams are also two of the best when it comes to giving up few base runners, with respective WHIPs of 1.20 and 1.13. The under has been a frequent occurrence in this series, now 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings between the two. Cleveland's bullpen has proven to be one of the stingiest overall, posting a 2.09 ERA this season and a 1.17 ERA in the last three games, which only adds to the pressure an already inconsistent Minnesota lineup will face. All things considered, poor hitting, good pitching, and recent trends are all combining to make this a game that should stay under 8 runs comfortably.

Pablo Lopez has returned to ace status since the All-Star break and Matthew Boyd has pitched great in five of his six starts.