Minnesota Twins vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays poised for victory in upcoming series against Minnesota Twins as Zack Littell's pitching shines

The Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins will face off in the first of a three-game series on Friday, with the Rays having won two out of three in their previous matchup in May. Zack Littell will start for the Twins with a 3.61 ERA, while Chris Paddack will take the mound for the Rays with a 4.70 ERA. The Twins are the favorites in this American League matchup, with Minnesota opening at -113 and the current line at Minnesota -110. Catch the action at 4:10 PM EST.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Twins -110 | Rays -102
• Spread: Twins -1.5 (+175) | Rays +1.5 (-203)
• Total: Over/Under 9.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Minnesota will win straight-up is 52%.

Minnesota vs Tampa Bay Stats

Minnesota Twins

The Tampa Bay Rays are currently one game out of the lead in the AL East, with Toronto surpassing the Yankees for the top spot. They recently lost two out of three games at home against the Athletics, but managed a win in their most recent game with the help of two home runs from Yandy Diaz. Diaz, their designated hitter, has 14 home runs and 49 RBIs this season with a batting average of .291. Jonathan Aranda, the first baseman, leads the team with a .320 batting average, while Junior Caminero, the young third baseman, leads in home runs and RBIs. Zack Littell, a 29-year old right hander, is set to make his 18th start of the season with a 7-7 record and a 3.61 ERA. Despite their recent struggles, the team remains competitive in the AL East race.

With a power ranking of 6, the Minnesota Twins are currently ranked 7th in offense (averaging 4.78 runs per game), 12th in defense (allowing 3.99 runs per game), and have a season record of 48-39.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Minnesota Twins are currently tied for second in the AL Central, trailing the division-leading Detroit Tigers by 12.5 games. Despite recent losses in their last two series, they are looking to bounce back against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Twins' outfielder Matt Wallner recently contributed a home run in their last game, adding to his season total of eight home runs and 14 RBIs. Byron Buxton leads the team in both home runs and RBIs, while Trevor Larnach has also shown power with 12 home runs. Pitcher Chris Paddack will make his 18th start of the season, with a 3-7 record and a 4.70 ERA. The Rays, on the other hand, have a power ranking of 30 and are ranked #21 for offense and #18 for defense. In their last meeting, Minnesota went 1-2 against Tampa Bay.

Zack Littell's Strong Pitching Gives Tampa Bay the Edge in Upcoming Series Against Minnesota

Tampa Bay appears to have the upper hand in the upcoming series, largely due to the superior performance of pitcher Zack Littell compared to his counterpart, Chris Paddack. Littell has demonstrated a stronger record, lower ERA, and impressive strikeout to walk ratio throughout the season. In a recent game against the Orioles, Littell only allowed one earned run over seven innings, showcasing his ability to shut down opposing offenses. With Littell on the mound, Tampa Bay stands a good chance of securing a victory against a Minnesota team that has struggled to generate runs as of late. Based on the strengths of the pitching staff and recent performances, it is anticipated that the Rays will emerge victorious in this match-up.

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