On this Wednesday night, there’s an exciting clash in MLB as the Minnesota Twins take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, attracting the interest of the fans and even the handicappers. The Twins seem to have a better record at 75-63 than the Rays, who are slightly behind at 68-70. This makes the game of interest as it is likely to affect the postseason aspirations of the two sides. The handicappers review today is another part of this matchup, focusing more on the prediction of outcomes and linear regression for betting rather than simply stating who will win.
Twins vs. Rays 9/4/24 Game Info and Odds |
|
When: | Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 6:50 PM ET |
Where: | Tropicana Field |
Watch: | BSSUN, Fubo, ESPN |
Twins odds: | -115 ML |
Rays odds: | -105 ML |
Total Line: | 8.5 |
Twins (75-63) vs. Rays (68-70)
The Twins are coming into this game after a blend of satisfactory and disappointing results in recent games. However, with a batting average of .252 and considerable power in the order, there have been notable blackouts in the Minnesota win column. The last five games for the Twins have had some fighting spirit, but there was still a concern over the pitching inconsistency. Their recent showings against Toronto and Tampa Bay show that the team is under pressure to deliver and has lost its way going into the playoffs.
Twins Last 5 Games | |||
Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
Sep 3, 2024 | TB | 1-2 | Lose |
Sep 2, 2024 | TB | 5-4 | Win |
Sep 1, 2024 | TOR | 4-3 | Win |
Aug 31, 2024 | TOR | 0-15 | Lose |
On the contrary, the Tampa Bay Rays attempt to shake off a slump with three wins in their last six games. They have highlighted good hitting skills and bad times as well as winning over Minnesota and winning sustainably against San Diego. People have seen them struggling to win despite losing to the Padres’ constant in the past two games on Sep 1 and Aug 30.
Rays Last 5 Games | |||
Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
Sep 3, 2024 | MIN | 2-1 | Win |
Sep 2, 2024 | MIN | 4-5 | Lose |
Sep 1, 2024 | SD | 3-4 | Lose |
Aug 31, 2024 | SD | 11-4 | Win |
Aug 30, 2024 | SD | 5-13 | Lose |
Ronny Henriquez (1-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. Cole Sulser (0-0, 5.4 ERA)
Ronny Henriquez has proved to be a pleasant surprise for the Twins. Although he has only seen action in two games for the Twins and owns a 1-0 record accompanied by a respectable 2.45 ERA, his brief appearances have showcased the promise of lasting longer on the mound. He has been effective with his control and striking out batters when needed, and he will be key again in this game, mainly because of the lack of form in the Rays’ offense.
As for this one, Cole Sulser steps in with less flattering numbers. A 5.4 ERA, combined with a 1.56 WHIP, is hardly a report card for an ace, and he will be playing for the Twins, against whom any pitcher is bound to make mistakes. Sulser’s task will be to control his walks ratio and his leadoff power hitter, Twin’s swordsman, to bring the game within reach.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Twins -1.5 (+145), Total Odds: 8.5
Considering the current betting odds, there’s a slight edge towards the Twins given their offensive capabilities and Henriquez’s pitching form. The total line at 8.5 also suggests expectations of a moderately high-scoring game, reflecting both teams’ recent trends.
Twins Betting Trends
In four of their last six contests, the Twins have seen the total go UNDER by the corresponding number of total runs O/U. This suggests quite some improvement in their pitching lately. They are only on record as having finished 5-10 SU in their last fifteen games, and this means they struggle in the closing stages of the games, which should be noted by those placing bets bearing in mind this is a keen area of competition they have had with Tampa Bay.
Rays Betting Trends
For the Rays, that total has gone OVER in four of their last six games, and these trends may give ideas as to how their games have turned out to be so high-scoring, probably because they are struggling with pitching. Their trend of going UNDER at home against Minnesota may also be a factor in betting tactics, especially as their starting pitchers have shown mixed results.
Twins vs. Rays 9/4/24 Betting Picks
Under the current dynamics it is worth betting on the Twins to cover the spread. Considering the performance of Henriquez on the pitcher’s mound, he will be able to neutralize the batters of the Rays, while the bats of the Twins should take advantage of Sulser’s terrible form lately.
As to prop bets and over/under action, there have been reasons for Purdue’s over/under some of which have historical data and pitcher profiles suggesting betting UNDER it might be sensible due to the two teams not scoring very much against Henriquez. With regard to available insights for MLB free insights, pay close attention to the line movements as the game approaches, as they could offer extra value.