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It's time to continue our MLB odds series with a Twins-Athletics prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Twins Athletics.
The Minnesota Twins, as anyone who closely follows pro baseball knows well, have been the ultimate streaky team in the big leagues in 2024. They can win 12 straight and then turn around and lose seven straight, then win five straight, and then lose five out of six. They have a solid overall record right now at 42-35, which has them in position for an American League wild card berth. If they can stabilize and show a modest amount of consistency, they should be headed for the playoffs. It was therefore important that after losing three straight games — two to the Tampa Bay Rays and then a third game to the Oakland A's on Friday night — the Twins got back on the beam and won a game on Saturday in Oakland. Minnesota has a chance to win this weekend series and do what it ought to do: Beat a bad team a majority of the time. Minnesota did sweep Oakland four straight at home one weekend ago. If the Twins do lose two of three in Oakland one week later, it will take away from the value and meaning of that four-game run against the A's at Target Field.
Oakland was briefly at .500 in mid-April. The A's were one of the surprise teams in baseball in the first four weeks of the regular season. More recently, however, the A's have crashed and burned. They have been humbled and knocked around. They lost nine games in a row before winning a home series against the struggling Kansas City Royals, the team the Twins have passed in the American League Central (and wild card) standings. Oakland has shown at times what it is capable of. Winning a series against the Twins could feed the A's the level of confidence they need to make a push in the second half of the season.
Twins-Athletics Projected Starters
Pablo Lopez vs. Hogan Harris
Pablo Lopez (6-6) has a 5.63 ERA. The Twins' overall inconsistency as a team is mirrored by Lopez, who can be brilliant at times but has not had regular command of his pitches or the strike zone. Lopez needs to pitch like an ace in order for the Twins to reach their potential. It's important for Lopez to live up to his potential so that the Twins can make a steady climb in the standings and challenge the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central championship. Dominating the A's is something Lopez needs to do if he wants to feel he is on the right track and will repair what was broken at earlier points in this season. He wasn't sharp in his last outing, so this start contains an extra measure of urgency for him and the Twins.
Last Start: Tuesday, June 18 versus the Tampa Bay Rays: 4 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 HR, 1 BB, 3 K
2024 Road Splits: 7 starts, 38 IP, 34 H, 26 R, 9 HR, 12 BB, 44 K
Hogan Harris (1-0) has a 2.37 ERA. He hasn't pitched a ton of innings this season, but Harris has been good when called upon. The A's need Harris to remain reliable. They might be able to get on a tear and make a climb in the standings after that awful nine-game losing streak which took the air out of the balloon for the Athletics this season.
Last Start: Tuesday, June 18 versus the Kansas City Royals: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
2024 Home Splits: 2 starts, 16 1/3 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 1 HR, 5 BB, 11 K
Here are the Twins-Athletics MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Twins-Athletics Odds
Minnesota Twins: -1.5 (-108)
Moneyline: -178
Oakland Athletics: +1.5 (-111)
Moneyline: +150
Over: 8 (-112)
Under: 8 (-108)
How To Watch Twins vs. Athletics
Time: 4:07 p.m. ET/1:07 p.m. PT
TV: Bally Sports North (Twins) / NBC Sports California (Athletics) / MLB Extra Innings
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why The Twins Could Cover The Spread/Win
The Twins crushed the A's on Saturday in a 10-2 romp. Pablo Lopez has struggled this year but still has high-end talent. He should be able to contain the A's while Minnesota's bats do their thing.
Why The Athletics Could Cover The Spread/Win
The Twins are not yet at a point where they have earned the benefit of the doubt. They are still quite volatile, and Oakland — which beat the Twins on Friday — can capitalize on that fact.
Final Twins-Athletics Prediction & Pick
The Twins should get a decent start from Lopez, which should be enough to win and cover.
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Final Twins-Athletics Prediction & Pick: Twins -1.5
