San Diego Padres Defeated by Minnesota Twins 7-4 in Game 2 of Weekend Series, Ejection of Nestor Cortes Impactful

The San Diego Padres faced off against the Minnesota Twins in Game 2 of their weekend series following a challenging loss on Friday. The Twins took advantage of opportunities in the fourth inning, scoring four runs and ultimately winning 7-4. The Padres were impacted by errors and the ejection of starting pitcher Nestor Cortes. For in-depth analysis and MLB picks ahead of this significant late-August matchup, be sure to explore our best bets.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Padres -174 | Twins +148
Spread: Padres -1.5 (-108) | Twins +1.5 (-112)
Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that San Diego will win straight-up is 64%.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are currently in a strong position for postseason contention, with a record of 75-60 and trailing only Los Angeles in the division race. Their scheduled starter for Saturday is Nick Pivetta, who has a record of 13-4 and an ERA of 2.82, bringing strikeout ability and consistency to the mound. The bullpen has performed well since the All-Star break, with a top-10 ERA, anchored by Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta. Offensively, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. lead the team in power, with Tatis also leading in stolen bases. San Diego's combination of speed and power makes them a tough playoff contender, and despite recent losses, their roster depth remains a key advantage.

Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins (61-73) have made several significant moves at the trade deadline in an effort to improve their roster and make a push for success. They have acquired Taj Bradley (6-7, 4.95 ERA) from Tampa Bay to bolster their starting rotation. The bullpen, with new additions and a strong strikeout rate, has become a late-inning asset for the team.

In their recent game against the Padres, Minnesota secured a 7-4 victory after a turbulent fourth inning that saw a two-run error by Jake Cronenworth and Nestor Cortes getting ejected early on during a mound visit. Royce Lewis hit a home run, and Byron Buxton reached a milestone by joining the 20/20 club with a stolen base.

Nick Pivetta and Padres have edge over struggling Twins in upcoming matchup

The San Diego Padres have a strong advantage with Nick Pivetta starting the game. Despite a loss in his previous outing against the Dodgers, Pivetta demonstrated solid performance by allowing only two earned runs in six innings. In contrast, Twins starter Taj Bradley struggled in his last game, giving up seven runs in five innings against the White Sox. Furthermore, the Padres bullpen is significantly stronger than that of the Twins. Considering these factors, it is recommended to choose San Diego as the likely winner in this matchup.

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