PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* EARLY AFTERNOON ASSAULT >> 28-9-1 Run! PERFECT 7-0 L2 Days!
(MLB) Minnesota vs. Cleveland,
Money Line: -150.00 Cleveland (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -150.00 Cleveland (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The defending AL champs have lost the first two of this three-game home series with the Twins, managing just three hits on Friday and Saturday, while scoring only one run in the two contests. The Cleveland Indians will need to wake up their dormant offense, having now lost four of five to fall to 18-17. Meanwhile, the Twins, losers of 103 games in 2016, have now won four in a row and at 19-14, lead the Indians and Tigers by two games in the AL Central. Max Kepler belted a solo HR on Saturday as the Twins extended their streak of games with a homer to 14 straight, their longest run since 1988.
The pitching matchup: Hector Santiago (4-1 & 2.76 ERA) takes the mound for Minnesota and Trevor Bauer (2-4 & 7.36 ERA) for Cleveland. Santiago is off to a strong starts in 2017 and enters unbeaten in his last five starts, allowing just 10 ERs in that span (3-0 & 2.90 ERA). The lefty has allowed just three HRs in 42 1/3 innings and right-handed hitters own only a .194 batting average against him overall. Santiago is 2-3 with a 4.77 ERA in 15 games (10 starts / teams are 3-7) against the Indians. In contrast to Santiago, Bauer has permitted at least four runs in five of his six starts this season. He does have 37 strikeouts in 33 innings in 2017 but teams are batting .285 against him overall, with seven HRs allowed. Bauer is 2-5 with a 5.09 ERA in 12 career starts against Minnesota (Indians are 4-8).
The pick: Yes, the Twins have won 1-0 and 4-1 these first two games but the Twins aren't exactly 'lighting up' the scoreboard, either (just five runs on hits). Bauer has not been sharp so far (an understatement) but his best start of 2017 did come at Minnesota back on April 20, when he allowed two ERs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 6-2 win. The Cleveland bats have quiet but the Indians have a veteran lineup that has been productive in the past. Speaking of the recent past, the Indians were 53-28 at home in 2016, while the Twins went 29-52 on the road. I say no sweep here by Minnesota, as Santiago's had problems with Cleveland (see above). Make Cleveland a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Hector Santiago (4-1 & 2.76 ERA) takes the mound for Minnesota and Trevor Bauer (2-4 & 7.36 ERA) for Cleveland. Santiago is off to a strong starts in 2017 and enters unbeaten in his last five starts, allowing just 10 ERs in that span (3-0 & 2.90 ERA). The lefty has allowed just three HRs in 42 1/3 innings and right-handed hitters own only a .194 batting average against him overall. Santiago is 2-3 with a 4.77 ERA in 15 games (10 starts / teams are 3-7) against the Indians. In contrast to Santiago, Bauer has permitted at least four runs in five of his six starts this season. He does have 37 strikeouts in 33 innings in 2017 but teams are batting .285 against him overall, with seven HRs allowed. Bauer is 2-5 with a 5.09 ERA in 12 career starts against Minnesota (Indians are 4-8).
The pick: Yes, the Twins have won 1-0 and 4-1 these first two games but the Twins aren't exactly 'lighting up' the scoreboard, either (just five runs on hits). Bauer has not been sharp so far (an understatement) but his best start of 2017 did come at Minnesota back on April 20, when he allowed two ERs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 6-2 win. The Cleveland bats have quiet but the Indians have a veteran lineup that has been productive in the past. Speaking of the recent past, the Indians were 53-28 at home in 2016, while the Twins went 29-52 on the road. I say no sweep here by Minnesota, as Santiago's had problems with Cleveland (see above). Make Cleveland a 10* play.
