Minnesota Twins at Texas Rangers Expert MLB Picks Against the Spread 8/17/2019
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Globe Life Park
Get todays MLB odds and lines on this game.
Probable Pitchers: Jose Berrios vs. Ariel Jurado
Globe Life Park is the venue where Shin-Soo Choo and the Texas Rangers (60-60, 3rd in AL West) will play the Minnesota Twins (72-48, 1st in AL Central) on Saturday.
The Twins have been a strong bet for baseball wagerers, having gone 72-48-0 SU. The Rangers cover 50.0% of the time, going 60-60-0 straight up.
Valuable Minnesota Twins Betting Trends
The Twins have been a pretty good Over option for O/U baseball wagerers, having gone 62-52-6.
Minnesota is covering 62.1% of the time as the visitor, having gone 36-22-0 straight up.
Important Texas Rangers Betting Trends
The Rangers cover 61.4% of the time at Globe Life Park, going 35-22-0 SU.
The Rangers have been a hot and cold Over option for O/U baseball wagerers, having gone 55-61-4.
Key Minnesota Twins Injuries
8/9/2019 Nelson Cruz DH Wrist Expected to be out until at least Aug 19
8/7/2019 LaMonte Wade RF Thumb Expected to be out until at least Aug 21
8/6/2019 Willians Astudillo C Oblique Expected to be out until at least Sep 1
8/3/2019 Michael Pineda SP Triceps Expected to be out until at least Aug 15
8/3/2019 Byron Buxton CF Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Sep 3
Key Texas Rangers Injuries
8/15/2019 Clayton Blackburn RP Elbow Out for the season
8/13/2019 Jesse Chavez RP Elbow Expected to be out until at least Aug 23
8/5/2019 Taylor Hearn SP Elbow Expected to be out until at least Sep 17
7/28/2019 Edinson Volquez SP Elbow Expected to be out until at least Aug 20
7/28/2019 Jesse Biddle RP Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Sep 15
7/26/2019 Yohander Mendez RP Elbow Expected to be out until at least Sep 1
7/25/2019 Joey Gallo CF Wrist Expected to be out until at least Aug 25
7/23/2019 Luke Farrell SP Jaw Expected to be out until at least Aug 22
6/28/2019 Jeffrey Springs RP Biceps Expected to be out until at least Aug 23
5/13/2019 Nate Jones RP Forearm Out for the season
Useful Pitching Statistics
The Twins have a 72-48 overall record this season. Starting pitcher Jose Berrios has a 10-6 record with an earned run average of 3.29 and a WHIP of 1.15 this season. He has 144 strikeouts over his 153.1 innings pitched and he's given up 141 hits. He's allowed 8.3 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.8. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.50 and they have given up 412 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .257 against the bullpen and they've struck out 423 hitters and walked 144 batters. As a team, Minnesota allows 8.8 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.7 batters per nine innings. They are 8th in the league in team earned run average at 4.15. The Twins pitchers collectively have given up 1,061 base hits and 501 earned runs. They have allowed 151 home runs this season, ranking them 24th in the league. Minnesota as a pitching staff has walked 347 batters and struck out 1,048. They have walked 2.9 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.7 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.30 and their FIP as a unit is 4.18.
Related: Get MLB tips & picks on all of today's games
Hitting Statistics
As a team Minnesota is hitting .269, good for 4th in the league. The Twins hold a .498 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .336, which is good for 6th in baseball. They rank 2nd in MLB with 9.5 hits per game. Jorge Polanco is hitting .294 with an on-base percentage of .357. He has 140 hits this season in 476 at bats with 58 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .487 and an OPS+ of 121. Max Kepler is hitting .258 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .337. He has totaled 114 hits and he has driven in 78 men in 442 at bats. His OPS+ is 126 while his slugging percentage is at .536. The Twins have 1,142 hits, including 240 doubles and 233 home runs. Minnesota has walked 382 times so far this season and they have struck out 975 times as a unit. They have left 820 men on base and have a team OPS of .834. They score 5.72 runs per contest and have scored a total of 687 runs this year.
Useful Pitching Statistics
Texas has a 60-60 overall mark this year. With an earned run average of 5.31, Ariel Jurado has a 6-8 record and a 1.45 WHIP. He has 72 strikeouts over the 96.2 innings he's pitched. He also has given up 110 hits. He's allowing 10.2 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.81. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.90 and they have given up 460 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .260 against the Rangers bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 436 batters and walked 196 opposing hitters. As a team, Texas allows 9.4 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.7 batters per nine innings. They are 23rd in the league in team earned run average at 4.95. The Rangers pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,114 base knocks and 585 earned runs this season. They have given up 175 home runs this year, which ranks 8th in Major League Baseball. Texas as a staff has walked 421 hitters and struck out 1,031 batters. They give up a walk 3.6 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.7 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.44 while their FIP as a staff is 4.76.
Hitting Statistics
As a team, they are batting .249, good for 18th in the league. The Rangers hold a .440 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .321, which is good for 19th in baseball. They rank 17th in MLB with 8.5 hits per contest. Shin-Soo Choo comes into this matchup batting .267 with an OBP of .370. He has 113 hits this year along with 45 RBI in 423 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .470 with an OPS+ of 112. Elvis Andrus is hitting .285 this season and he has an OBP of .323. He has collected 125 hits in 438 at bats while driving in 57 runs. He has an OPS+ of 87 and a slugging percentage of .418. The Rangers as a unit have 1,019 base hits, including 230 doubles and 171 homers. Texas has walked 406 times this year and they have struck out on 1,189 occasions. They have had 790 men left on base and have an OPS of .761. They have scored 5.12 runs per game and totaled 614 runs this season.
Who will win tonight's Twins/Rangers MLB game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take the Twins
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Josh Schonwald
Get all of Today's Free MLB Picks
Get all of Today's Expert MLB Picks