Washington Nationals vs
Minnesota TwinsPredictions & Preview

Minnesota Twins Set to Dominate Washington Nationals in Pitching Matchup

The Washington Nationals will be looking to continue their winning streak as they take on the Minnesota Twins in the final game of their interleague series at Target Field on Sunday afternoon. Jake Irvin will be starting for the Nationals, while David Festa will take the mound for the Twins. Washington holds a 6-4 record in their last 10 games against Minnesota. Stay tuned to find out which team comes out on top in this Nationals vs. Twins matchup. Please note that this preview was written prior to Saturday's game.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Nationals +140 | Twins -164
• Spread: Nationals +1.5 (-140) | Twins -1.5 (+120)
• Total: Over/Under 9.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Minnesota will win straight-up is 62%.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are currently experiencing a slump, particularly on the road where they have lost five of their last six games. Despite this, they will aim to turn things around in their upcoming game on Sunday. The team's offensive statistics rank in the middle of the league, with an average of 4.36 runs per game, a .246 batting average, a .312 on-base percentage, and a .391 slugging percentage. CJ Abrams leads the team with a .279 batting average, while James Wood leads in home runs and RBI. On the defensive side, Washington is struggling, giving up an average of 5.40 runs per game, with opponents hitting .265 against them. Their ERA of 5.21 and WHIP of 1.41 rank 28th and 26th in the league, respectively. In his last start, pitcher Irvin allowed five runs in 3.2 innings, resulting in a 10-8 win over the Reds. He holds a 0-1 record with a 2.84 ERA in one game against Minnesota.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins recently broke a four-game losing streak by winning two out of three games. They currently hold the fourth position in the AL Central standings, trailing Cleveland by 1.5 games. The Twins are striving to climb the standings with a victory on Sunday.

In terms of offensive statistics, Minnesota averages 4.27 runs per game (19th in the league), has a .242 batting average (21st), a .313 on-base percentage (20th), and a .402 slugging percentage (15th). Byron Buxton has been the standout batter for the team, leading in batting average (.290), home runs (23), and RBI (58).

On the defensive side, the Twins give up 4.35 runs per game (18th), have a .251 opponents' batting average (23rd), a 4.17 ERA (21st), and a 1.26 WHIP (13th). In the last game, pitcher Festa allowed four hits and one run in 5.1 innings, resulting in a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Minnesota Twins Set to Dominate Washington Nationals in Pitching Matchup

The Minnesota Twins have emerged victorious in two out of their last three games, whereas the Washington Nationals have suffered defeats in five of their previous six road games. Minnesota holds a competitive advantage in this matchup due to their strong performance against right-handed pitchers, paired with their upcoming encounter with Irvin, who has shown inconsistency on the pitching mound by conceding 12 runs in his last three appearances. Irvin's struggles are further emphasized by his record of allowing 16 runs in his last three road starts, combined with Washington's status as possessing the least effective bullpen in the league. Conversely, Festa has demonstrated prowess on the mound for the Twins, giving up a total of 10 runs in his last four starts and only allowing more than two runs in a single game out of his six home starts. With Festa likely to stifle Washington's offense, the Twins are poised for victory and are therefore a recommended pick on the money line.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]