Minnesota Twins vs
San Diego PadresPredictions & Preview

Padres Expected to Dominate Twins in Crucial Mid-Week Series Clash

The Padres and Twins are set to face off in an important mid-week series starting on Monday, August 18. Both teams are currently in wild card spots in their respective leagues, with Minnesota just two games behind the Guardians for the AL Central lead and San Diego trailing the Dodgers by three games in the NL West. The first pitch is scheduled for 9:40 P.M. EST, with Zebby Matthews starting for the Twins and Michael King starting for the Padres. San Diego is the betting favorite, opening at -150 and currently at -154.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Twins +138 | Padres -154
• Spread: Twins +1.5 (-161) | Padres -1.5 (+141)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that San Diego will win straight-up is 61%.

Minnesota vs San Diego Stats

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are currently 70-54 this season and are two games back of first place in the American League Central division. They hold the second wild card spot by 4.5 games. While the team has won five of their last seven games, they recently lost to the Rangers in a close 10-inning game. Despite leading 4-0, the Rangers came back to win 6-5. Zebby Mathews, a rising star in the organization, will be starting for the Twins in their upcoming game. The team has had success hitting home runs and doubles this season, with strong offensive stats overall. Their power ranking is 5, and they are ranked 7 in offense and 14 in defense.

San Diego Padres Analysis

The San Diego Padres are having a successful season with a 70-55 overall record and are currently second in the National League West division, three games behind the Dodgers. They are also leading in the National League Wild Card race. The Padres have been playing well since the All-Star break, winning four of their last six games. Despite a recent loss to the Rockies, where Manny Machado hit a solo home run but the offense struggled, manager Mike Shildt praised pitcher Joe Musgrove for his performance. Michael King is set to start for the Padres on Monday night after posting a 3.19 ERA in 23 starts. The team has won four straight games with King on the mound. The Padres have the best batting average in the league at .266 and have been hitting .284 since the All-Star break. They are also performing well against the American League, with a .291 batting average in six games. Their power ranking is currently at 1, with the offense ranked at 11 and defense at 13. In their last three matchups against Minnesota, the Padres went 1-2.

Padres poised to dominate Twins in upcoming game with offensive prowess

The upcoming game between the Padres and the Twins on Monday will be a showcase of two highly performing teams. Both are currently strong contenders in the wild card race of their respective leagues. However, the Padres hold a significant advantage due to their exceptional offensive capabilities. With the best batting average and highest number of hits in the league, San Diego's offensive prowess is evident with a .284 post All-Star break average and a .280 average in August. On the other hand, the Twins have shown respectable but not outstanding offensive stats, holding a .242 average against the National League. Additionally, starting pitcher Michael King boasts an impressive 2.22 ERA since the All-Star break. Considering these factors, the Padres are likely to emerge victorious in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ]