As the MLB regular season nears its end, one huge clash stands out between the Minnesota Twins (80-71) and the Cleveland Guardians (87-65), and, given its importance, it will take place on Wednesday. It is such a game that not only adds weight to the competitive aspect but also creates an excellent opportunity for the best sports handicapper. While the Twins’ quest to improve backfired, they are now up against empowered Guardians who have proven their mental toughness as well as their execution throughout the year.
Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians 9/18/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 6:40 PM ET |
| Where: | Progressive Field |
| Watch: | BSGL, ESPN, MLB.TV |
| Twins odds: | -106 Moneyline |
| Guardians odds: | -111 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 7.5 |
Minnesota Twins (80-71) vs. Cleveland Guardians (87-65)
At a record of 80-71, the Minnesota Twins have experienced some mixed performance lately. Well, they won the encounter with the Guardians 4-1 on 17th September. In the previous games, however, the Twins had some strains. The Guardians beat the Twins and Cincinnati, with narrow scores 3-4 Cleveland and 1-11 and 4-8 Cincinnati – which suggest that they are struggling to regain form as the playoffs approach.
| Minnesota Twins Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 17, 2024 | CLE | 4-1 | Win |
| Sep 16, 2024 | CLE | 3-4 | Lose |
| Sep 15, 2024 | CIN | 9-2 | Win |
| Sep 14, 2024 | CIN | 1-11 | Lose |
| Sep 13, 2024 | CIN | 4-8 | Lose |
On the other hand, the Cleveland Guardians, standing at 87-65, have been exhibiting a better and steadier performance. In the last five games, they have recorded wins against the Twins and Tampa Bay Rays with an impressive defensive showing, considering it was a 2-0 shutout against the latter. Even with this hot streak, one was reminded of their weakness against weaker foes, as expressed by their loss against Tampa Bay.
| Cleveland Guardians Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 17, 2024 | MIN | 1-4 | Lose |
| Sep 16, 2024 | MIN | 4-3 | Win |
| Sep 15, 2024 | TB | 2-0 | Win |
| Sep 14, 2024 | TB | 6-1 | Win |
| Sep 13, 2024 | TB | 1-3 | Lose |
Bailey Ober (12-7, 3.9 ERA) vs. Tanner Bibee (11-8, 3.6 ERA)
As of now, Bailey Ober, the starting pitcher of the Twins, enjoys his football season, winning 12 and losing 7 and carries 3.9 ERA standings. The season has also recorded 168 strikeouts, and the WHIP stands at 0.99 over the pitch span of 161.2 innings. While Ober has been able to control the walks and hits at some point, there is the likelihood of concern for home runs, and home run ball pitched, which is 23 this season against the Guardians’ batting order.
On the other hand, Tanner Bibee of the Guardians will be on the mound with a record of 11-8 and an ERA of 3.6. Further details suggest that over 160 innings in the 16 games, he accumulated a WHIP of 1.14 and 175 strikeouts, where such stats show reliability and consistency. More so, he has a good ability to control pressure situations, which will be important, especially while facing power hitters from the Minnesota Twins lineup.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Minnesota Twins -106, Total Odds: 7.5
The betting odds present a nearly even moneyline, reflecting the competitive nature of this matchup. Given the recent performance trends and starting pitchers’ stats, the total line set at 7.5 leans slightly towards a lower-scoring game, considering both teams’ recent UNDER trends and strong pitching.
Minnesota Twins Betting Trends
Minnesota’s recent games have predominantly seen OVER totals, contrasted by their overall difficulty in securing wins against Cleveland, especially on the road where they are 1-5 SU in their last 6 encounters. This suggests potential vulnerabilities that Cleveland’s tactical play could exploit.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Trends
The Guardians have shown strong form, especially at home, with an UNDER in 7 of their last 8 games and a 5-1 SU record in their last 6 games against Minnesota at Progressive Field. Their betting trends reinforce their status as slight favorites in this clash, backed by solid pitching and home-field advantage.
Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians 9/18/24 Betting Picks
Considering the study and line movement, an opportunity emerges for the Cleveland Guardians, especially when they have been dominant defensively at Progressive Field. The task becomes more strenuous for the Twins, who must put their hitting into action to offset that of the Guardians.
For the above scenarios that involve wagering money, it is better to say that a more reasonable bet would be the moneyline on the Guardians. Acknowledging that the majority of the plays will be in vain, it is safer to concentrate on betting under more total runs than expected, considering the talent level of the pitchers. Also, pay attention to Free MLB daily predictions in which a player or players are focused, including props, limits, and individual performance statistics.