PREMIUM
Rogers' EARLY Afternoon ANNIHILATION >> AWESOME 8-3 Last 3 Days!
(MLB) Minnesota vs. Toronto,
Money Line: -144.00 Toronto (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -144.00 Toronto (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Minnesota Twins opened their eight-game week (played a doubleheader Monday in Chicago) by losing three of five to the AL-worst White Sox but began their three-game weekend series in Toronto with a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays. Minnesota's 14 wins since August 6 are the most in the majors over that span and the 66-62 Twins maintained their one-half game lead in the AL wild-card chase over the 66-63 Mariners with last night's victory. The Blue Jays' loss ended a seven-game home winning streak over the Twins (dated back to June 11, 2014,) to fall to 60-68. It was Toronto's sixth loss in its last seven outings and while the Blue Jays are only six games back of Minnesota, there are a whopping SIX teams between Toronto and Minnesota!
The pitching matchup: Dillon Gee (1-0 & 2.84 ERA) will take the mound for Minnesota and Marco Estrada (5-8 & 5.07 ERA) for Toronto. Gee seemed to have solidified a place in Minnesota's starting rotation in his fifth appearance and first start since signing with Minnesota in June when he held the White Sox to one run on two hits over six innings to get the 10-2 win in the second-half of Monday's twin bill. He's 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA since making his Twins debut on Aug. 3, allowing only 13 hits and two walks in 18 2/3 innings frames. Gee is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays (teams are 1-1). Estrada, who combined for 22 wins the last two seasons, has just five wins in 26 starts here in 2017 (Jays are 11-15, minus-$414 in all of his 2017 starts). However, he turned in his fourth quality start in the last five outings in Sunday's no-decision in Chicago, permitting three runs on five hits over six innings against the Cubs (Toronto lost 6-5). Estrada struck out nine over eight strong innings in a no-decision in his only start versus the Twins last season and is 1-2 with a 4.23 ERA in eight appearances (six starts / team is 3-3) against Minnesota in his career.
The pick: Toronto left 11 runners on base Friday and has scored only one run over its last two contests after hitting six HRs in Wednesday's 7-6 win over Tampa Bay. That's typical of Toronto's up-and-down season. Yes, the Blue Jays are on a 1-6 run but they have won 12 of their last 18 home games and as noted, Estrada is pitching much better of late. He did allow six ERs vs. Tampa Bay on Aug. 15 but in his other five starts over a six-start stretch (going back to July 26), he's allowed nine ERs over 32 innings for a 2.53 ERA. I'm not much on Gee, who has been around since 2010, going 49-46 in 156 appearances (126 starts) with a 4.08 ERA. Make Toronto an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Dillon Gee (1-0 & 2.84 ERA) will take the mound for Minnesota and Marco Estrada (5-8 & 5.07 ERA) for Toronto. Gee seemed to have solidified a place in Minnesota's starting rotation in his fifth appearance and first start since signing with Minnesota in June when he held the White Sox to one run on two hits over six innings to get the 10-2 win in the second-half of Monday's twin bill. He's 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA since making his Twins debut on Aug. 3, allowing only 13 hits and two walks in 18 2/3 innings frames. Gee is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays (teams are 1-1). Estrada, who combined for 22 wins the last two seasons, has just five wins in 26 starts here in 2017 (Jays are 11-15, minus-$414 in all of his 2017 starts). However, he turned in his fourth quality start in the last five outings in Sunday's no-decision in Chicago, permitting three runs on five hits over six innings against the Cubs (Toronto lost 6-5). Estrada struck out nine over eight strong innings in a no-decision in his only start versus the Twins last season and is 1-2 with a 4.23 ERA in eight appearances (six starts / team is 3-3) against Minnesota in his career.
The pick: Toronto left 11 runners on base Friday and has scored only one run over its last two contests after hitting six HRs in Wednesday's 7-6 win over Tampa Bay. That's typical of Toronto's up-and-down season. Yes, the Blue Jays are on a 1-6 run but they have won 12 of their last 18 home games and as noted, Estrada is pitching much better of late. He did allow six ERs vs. Tampa Bay on Aug. 15 but in his other five starts over a six-start stretch (going back to July 26), he's allowed nine ERs over 32 innings for a 2.53 ERA. I'm not much on Gee, who has been around since 2010, going 49-46 in 156 appearances (126 starts) with a 4.08 ERA. Make Toronto an 8* play.
