Friday, May 13, 2016

Progressive Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ricky Nolasco vs. Josh Tomlin

The Minnesota Twins visit Progressive Field on Friday to play the Cleveland Indians. The probable starters are Ricky Nolasco for the Twins and Josh Tomlin for the Indians. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota at +135 and Cleveland at -145. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Twins have a 17-14-2 over/under record and a 12-21-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 36% of the time. The Indians are 13-18-0 against the run line and have a 15-13-3 over/under record. They cover the spread 42% of the time.

The Twins head into this matchup with a 8-25 record, including 2-15 on the road. Starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco has a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 4.70 and a WHIP of 1.15. He has 34 strikeouts over his 38.1 innings pitched and he has given up 39 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.2 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.4. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.34 and they have given up 126 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .268 against the bullpen while being struck out 117 times and walking 50 times this season. As a team, Minnesota has allowed 9.89 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.25 batters per nine. They are 26th in the league in team earned run average at 4.85. The Twins pitchers have collectively given up 320 base hits and 157 earned runs. They have allowed 43 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Minnesota as a pitching staff has walked 107 batters and struck out 267. They walk 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.47 and their FIP as a unit is 4.35.

As a team, Minnesota is batting .236, good for 23rd in the league while putting together a .222 average away from home. The Twins hold a .369 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .304 which is good for 24th in baseball. They rank 21st in baseball with 8.03 hits per game. Joe Mauer comes into this game hitting .301 and his on-base percentage is at .424. He has 34 hits this season along with 10 runs scored and 9 runs batted in. He's struck out 17 times and has walked 24 times. Eduardo Nunez is hitting .353 and he has an on-base percentage of .398. He has totaled 30 hits so far while scoring 13 runs and he's driven in 10. He has walked 4 times and has struck out 16 times. The Twins have 265 hits, including 56 doubles and 28 home runs. They've stolen 20 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 7 times. Minnesota has walked 103 times this season and they've struck out 292 times as a unit. They've left 241 men on base and have a team OPS of .673. They score 3.36 runs per contest and have scored a total of 111 runs so far this year.

Cleveland comes into this matchup with a 8-6 home record and a 16-15 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.72, Josh Tomlin has a 5-0 record and a 1.10 WHIP. He has 19 strikeouts over the 29 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 30 hits. He has allowed 9.3 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.88. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.61 and they have given up 82 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .222 against the Indians bullpen while being struck out 91 times and walking 41 times this season. As a team, Cleveland has allowed 7.7 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.31 batters per nine. They are 10th in the league in team earned run average at 3.69. The Indians pitchers as a team have surrendered 240 base knocks and 115 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 32 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Cleveland as a staff has walked 92 hitters and struck out 259. They give up a walk 3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.3 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.18 while their FIP as a staff is 3.78.

As a team, they are batting .247, good for 15th in the league while putting together a .260 average at home. The Indians hold a .387 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .308 which is good for 20th in baseball. They rank 15th in baseball with 8.42 hits per contest. Jason Kipnis comes into this matchup batting .288 and he has an OBP of .333. He has 36 hits this year along with 18 runs scored and 15 RBI. He's struck out 37 times and has walked on 10 occasions. Francisco Lindor is hitting .293 and he has an OBP of .353. He has collected 36 hits so far while he's scored 20 runs and drove in 13. He has earned a walk 11 times and has punched out 23 times. The Indians as a unit have 261 base hits, including 55 doubles and 27 homers. They have 21 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 8 times. Cleveland as a team has walked 94 times this year and they have struck out 270 times. They've had 194 men left on base and have an OPS of .695. They score 4.26 runs per game and have totaled 132 runs so far this season.

Minnesota Twins Betting Trends

The Minnesota Twins are 17-14-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Minnesota Twins are 12-21-0 against the run line so far this season

Cleveland Indians Betting Trends

The Cleveland Indians are 15-13-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Cleveland Indians are 13-18-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Minnesota Twins

05/07/16 SS Eduardo Escobar Groin 15-day DL (5/7)
04/27/16 P Kyle Gibson Shoulder 15-day DL (4/23)
04/13/16 P Glen Perkins Shoulder 15-day DL (4/11)

Cleveland Indians

05/12/16 SS Jose Ramirez Wrist "?" Friday vs. Minnesota Twins
05/12/16 LF Michael Brantley Shoulder "?" Friday vs. Minnesota Twins
05/02/16 C Roberto Perez Thumb 15-day DL (5/2)
04/25/16 P Carlos Carrasco Hamstring 15-day DL (4/24)

Tony's Pick: Take the Twins

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