San Diego Padres vs
Minnesota TwinsPredictions & Preview

Padres vs. Twins Prediction: Nestor Cortes Shines as San Diego Faces Minnesota at Target Field

In an upcoming interleague matchup, the San Diego Padres will face off against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday night, with the game set to begin at 8:10 PM ET. Last year, the Padres won two out of three games against the Twins at Petco Park in San Diego. In this Padres vs. Twins prediction, the Padres are favored to win with a moneyline of -120 and a total of 8.5 runs. Stay tuned for more MLB picks for Friday's slate.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Padres -121 | Twins +110
• Spread: Padres -1.5 (+130) | Twins +1.5 (-150)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that San Diego will win straight-up is 55%.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres have struggled in their recent games, dropping three out of their last four matchups. They suffered an 8-2 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers and lost two out of three games against the Seattle Mariners. Despite this, the Padres remain two games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers and hold the second wild card spot in the National League. In their latest game against the Mariners, the Padres out hit their opponents but fell short, with Yu Darvish giving up four earned runs including a three-run homer. Nestor Cortes is set to pitch in the upcoming game against the Minnesota Twins, with a record of 2-2 and a 4.66 ERA this season. Cortes has performed well since joining the Padres at the trade deadline, with a 1-1 record and 3.00 ERA in four starts. He has had success against the Twins in the past, with a 2-2 record and a 4.13 ERA in five career starts and two relief appearances. Only four players on the current Twins team have faced Cortes before, with a combined total of one single, one double, and three home runs in 21 at-bats.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins have struggled in their recent games, winning only three out of their last 13 overall. They have lost four consecutive series and are currently 11.5 games behind the bottom wild card spot in the American League. In their most recent game, the Twins lost 9-8 to the Toronto Blue Jays, blowing an 8-5 lead. Pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson gave up five earned runs in 3.2 innings, with the bullpen adding four more runs. Zebby Matthews is set to pitch on Friday night, with a 3-4 record and 5.30 ERA in 2025. Matthews faced the Padres once in 2024, allowing five runs and has a 5-for-17 record against the current Padres lineup.

Nestor Cortes Shines as Twins Face Tough Matchup Against Padres' Strong Bullpen

Nestor Cortes delivered an impressive performance last Saturday by allowing only one hit in six scoreless innings during the Twins' 5-1 victory over the Dodgers. Despite the Twins' recent success against left-handed pitchers, I have confidence in Cortes' ability to perform well in this upcoming matchup. Additionally, the Padres have a strong bullpen that can be relied upon if Cortes encounters any challenges during the game. Over the past 10 days, the Padres' bullpen has exhibited impressive stats with a 3.57 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and .192 batting average against, while the Twins' bullpen has posted a 4.14 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and .255 batting average against. Considering the Padres' lineup has an impressive 116 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers during the same period, I am leaning towards the Padres as the more favorable choice over the Twins.

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