Pittsburgh Pirates (54-67) vs Minnesota Twins (63-59)
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Minnesota Twins 8/19/2023 – Before heading to The Land of 10,000 Lakes, Pittsburgh suffered a two-game losing streak against the Mets in Queens. The Pirates got off to a strong start, sweeping 19 of their first 28 games, but after April, they got lost in the broad sea and had several consecutive losing months. The Buccaneers hit .235 (27th), average 4.17 runs per game (24th), and have a .701 OPS. This season, they stole 90 bases, which ranks them 13th overall, and launched 121 home runs, which ranks them 24th overall. With 43 quality starts, the pitching staff’s 4.61 ERA and 1.40 WHIP rank 24th and 15th, respectively.
Although Minnesota is only four games behind .500 going into Friday’s games, it still has a 4.5-game advantage over Cleveland in the AL Central standings. Can it keep its divisional opponent at bay for much longer? The Twins hit .239 (21st) and average 4.43 runs, respectively, while ranking 16th in OPS (16.734). In 2023, they rank seventh in long balls hit (71) and 24th in base steals (65). With 61 quality starts, the Minnesota pitching staff has a league-leading 3.92 ERA (9th) and 1.20 WHIP (3rd). For expert baseball picks today, make sure to stay updated before placing your bets.
Pirates vs. Twins Game Info
| When: | Saturday, August 19, 2023 7:10 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Target Field, MN |
| TV: | Bally Sports North |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Mitch Keller (9-8, ERA: 4.27) vs Sonny Gray (6-5, ERA: 2.97)
Pittsburgh will send Keller to the mound for game two of the three-game series. In 2023, the fifth-year pro had a 161:46 K: BB ratio. In his previous start, he struck out seven batters in six innings, limiting Cincinnati to two runs (one earned). However, Keller’s season was up and down as he constantly alternated winning performances with poor ones. He’s given up six runs or more in three of his last six starts, and six runs total in the other three.
On Saturday night, Gray will get the home team’s start. In his most recent appearance (0 runs and 2 hits in six innings vs. Philadelphia), the seasoned right-hander got a victory. He limited 16 out of 24 opponents to two runs or fewer, and he only gave up more than three runs twice this year.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Minnesota Twins -172, Total Odds: 8
Minnesota is 31-21 SU as home favorites and 34-25 straight-up at home. Pittsburgh has a 40-56 SU record as an underdog and a 22-33 SU record on the road. The Pirates have a 14-23 SU record in interleague games this season. Speculate on the Twins to win handily on Saturday night. Gray will be the leader as they rise to the occasion against the floundering Pirates despite their inconsistent previous play. In 2023, the seasoned starter pitched admirably, consistently blanking opposing lineups.
Pitt will likely be the next victim of the Pirates’ .227 BA/.306 OBP/.394 SLG/.700 OPS on the road and .231/.309/.393/.703 slashes against right-handed pitchers in 2023. Keller was not as reliable on the hill this year as Gray was. He allowed nine or more hits in four of his last six starts. The Twins were more reliable at the plate after the All-Star break (.257/.340/.467/807) than in the first half of the season (.232/.309/.400/.709), hitting better at home (.251/.327/.448/.776) than on the road (.227/.308/.389/.697). They’ll provide Gray with enough runs to secure a win at home on Saturday.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends
The total went OVER in 8 of Pittsburgh’s last 11 matches. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 1-4 SU in their last 5 matches. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 3-8 SU in their last 11 matches against Minnesota. The total went UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 road matches.
Minnesota Twins Betting Trends
The Minnesota Twins are 4-1 SU in their last 5 matches. The total went UNDER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 6 matches against Pittsburgh. The Minnesota Twins are 5-1 SU in their last 6 matches at home. The Minnesota Twins are 6-2 SU in their last 8 matches when playing at home against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Minnesota Twins 8/19/2023 Betting Picks
The total went UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 matches on the road. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 2-6 SU in their last 8 matches when playing on the road against Minnesota. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 3-8 SU in their last 11 matches against an opponent in the American League. The total went OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 7 matches against an American League Central Division opponent. The total went UNDER in 10 of Minnesota’s last 14 matches against an opponent in the National League. The total went UNDER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 5 matches with an opponent in the National League Central Division. For exclusive sports picks today, be sure to stay tuned for the latest insights before placing your bets.
Free Pick and Prediction: Minnesota Twins will win 5-2