Minnesota Twins at Texas Rangers Expert MLB Picks Against the Spread 8/18/2019
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Globe Life Park
Get todays MLB odds and lines on this game.
Probable Pitchers: Martin Perez vs. Lance Lynn
Max Kepler and the Minnesota Twins (74-48, 1st in AL Central) go to Globe Life Park on Sunday where they'll meet the Texas Rangers (60-62, 3rd in AL West).
The Twins have been a great bet for wagerers, having gone 74-48-0 SU. Texas is covering 49.2% of the time, going 60-62-0 straight up.
Valuable Minnesota Twins Betting Trends
The Twins have been a pretty good Over option for O/U wagerers, having gone 63-53-6.
The Twins are covering 63.3% of the time as the road team, having gone 38-22-0 straight up.
Important Texas Rangers Betting Trends
Texas is covering 59.3% of the time at Globe Life Park, going 35-24-0 SU.
The Rangers have been a solid Under option for O/U wagerers, having gone 56-62-4.
Key Minnesota Twins Injuries
8/16/2019 LaMonte Wade RF Thumb Expected to be out until at least Sep 1
8/9/2019 Nelson Cruz DH Wrist Expected to be out until at least Aug 19
8/6/2019 Willians Astudillo C Oblique Expected to be out until at least Sep 1
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 Jesse Biddle RP Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Sep 15
7/28/2019 Edinson Volquez SP Elbow Expected to be out until at least Aug 20
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 74-48 overall record this season. Starting pitcher Martin Perez has a 8-5 record with an earned run average of 4.57 and a WHIP of 1.45 this season. He has 109 strikeouts over his 128 innings pitched and he's given up 133 hits. He's allowed 9.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.63. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.49 and they have given up 423 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .259 against the bullpen and they've struck out 428 hitters and walked 147 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 1,083 base hits and 510 earned runs. They have allowed 153 home runs this season, ranking them 25th in the league. Minnesota as a pitching staff has walked 353 batters and struck out 1,064. 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 4.17.
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 .499 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .337, which is good for 6th in baseball. They rank 2nd in MLB with 9.5 hits per game. Max Kepler is hitting .255 with an on-base percentage of .335. He has 115 hits this season in 451 at bats with 80 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .534 and an OPS+ of 125. Jorge Polanco is hitting .290 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .352. He has totaled 141 hits and he has driven in 59 men in 486 at bats. His OPS+ is 118 while his slugging percentage is at .479. The Twins have 1,164 hits, including 244 doubles and 238 home runs. Minnesota has walked 388 times so far this season and they have struck out 989 times as a unit. They have left 834 men on base and have a team OPS of .835. They score 5.77 runs per contest and have scored a total of 704 runs this year.
Useful Pitching Statistics
Texas has a 60-62 overall mark this year. With an earned run average of 3.54, Lance Lynn has a 14-8 record and a 1.20 WHIP. He has 184 strikeouts over the 160 innings he's pitched. He also has given up 151 hits. He's allowing 8.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.92 and they have given up 470 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .261 against the Rangers bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 442 batters and walked 198 opposing hitters. As a team, Texas allows 9.5 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.7 batters per nine innings. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.97. The Rangers pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,137 base knocks and 598 earned runs this season. They have given up 180 home runs this year, which ranks 9th in Major League Baseball. Texas as a staff has walked 427 hitters and struck out 1,045 batters. They give up a walk 3.6 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.7 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.45 while their FIP as a staff is 4.79.
Hitting Statistics
As a team, they are batting .250, good for 17th in the league. The Rangers hold a .442 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .322, which is good for 18th in baseball. They rank 15th in MLB with 8.5 hits per contest. Elvis Andrus comes into this matchup batting .284 with an OBP of .321. He has 127 hits this year along with 58 RBI in 447 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .414 with an OPS+ of 85. Shin-Soo Choo is hitting .267 this season and he has an OBP of .371. He has collected 114 hits in 427 at bats while driving in 45 runs. He has an OPS+ of 112 and a slugging percentage of .471. The Rangers as a unit have 1,041 base hits, including 237 doubles and 173 homers. Texas has walked 412 times this year and they have struck out on 1,205 occasions. They have had 804 men left on base and have an OPS of .763. They have scored 5.11 runs per game and totaled 623 runs this season.
Who will win tonight's Twins/Rangers MLB game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take the Twins
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