Twins Offense is Off the Hot Start
The Minnesota Twins put up 27 runs in taking two of their first three games this season. The players look to bash their way to another win when they host the St. Louis Cardinals in the teams home opener on Tuesday. The Twins set a major league record with 307 home runs last season. What is scary is the offense might be even better in 2020.
TIME: 8:10 p.m. ET. TV: FS Midwest, FS North; LINE: Twins -148; TOTAL: 10.5 Under -115
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (2019: 4-2, 3.17 ERA) vs. Twins RH Homer Bailey (2019: 13-9, 4.57)
Minnesota put up double-digit runs in each of its two victories during the opening weekend. The weekend was capped by a 14-2 drubbing of the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. The game included a first-inning grand slam from Jake Cave and a pair of homers from 40-year-old designated hitter Nelson Cruz.
Cruz finished 4-for-5 with four runs scored, seven RBIs and a pair of doubles. He became the second-oldest player in American League history, behind Rickey Henderson, to rack up four extra-base hits in a game.
Bailey Looks to Build on Positive 2019
Bailey made 31 starts while splitting the season between Kansas City and Oakland last season. It was his most starts in a season since making 32 for the Cincinnati Reds in 2013. He signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Minnesota in the offseason.
Bailey bounced back after going 1-14 with a 6.09 ERA in 2018 with Cincinnati. His struggles continued against National League opponents. He posted a 5.55 ERA in five starts against NL opponents last year. He was ripped for five runs at St. Louis on May 22nd. The damage was inflicted on four hits, two homers, and two walks in 1-2/3 innings
Cardinals to Depend on Pitching More
The Cardinals are coming off a series win as well. They missed out on a chance to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-1 loss on Sunday. “We want to obviously win every single game, but at the end of the day, a series win is what we’re trying to do,” St. Louis second baseman Kolten Wong told reporters. “As many series as we can win, it’s going to keep us in the positives and pushing toward that goal of getting us to the playoffs and World Series.”
Martinez is returning to the rotation after serving as the team’s closer last season. He is hoping to rediscover the form that made him an All-Star his last season as a full-time starter in 2017.
The 28-year-old posted a 42-27 record with a 3.24 ERA in 94 games from 2015 to 2017. Ninety-two of those games were starts. He dealt with shoulder discomfort in 2018 before moving to the bullpen. Martinez made the rotation with a strong showing in summer camp. He built up to four innings during an exhibition game last week.
This, That, and a Dart Throw
1. Twins CF Byron Buxton could make his season debut on Tuesday. He has been sidelines with foot issues.
2. Cardinals DH Matt Carpenter is off to a slow start at 1-for-10 with four strikeouts.
3. Minnesota 3B Josh Donaldson is 1-for-10 but scored his first two runs of the season after drawing two walks on Sunday.
4. St. Louis’s relievers have pitched 9.2 innings in the last 3 games.
5. Minnesota’s relievers have pitched 13 innings in the last 3 games
The Dart Throw: Twins 6, Cardinals 4.
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Cardinals vs Twins Betting Odds Trends
| Minnesota Twins |
|---|
| Minnesota is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games |
| Minnesota is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 6 games |
| Minnesota is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home |
| Minnesota is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis |
| The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Minnesota’s last 15 games when playing St. Louis |
| Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis |
| St. Louis Cardinals |
|---|
| St. Louis is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games |
| St. Louis is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis’s last 5 games |
| St. Louis is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road |
| St. Louis is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road |
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis’s last 6 games on the road |
| St. Louis is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota |
| The total has gone UNDER in 13 of St. Louis’s last 15 games when playing Minnesota |
| St. Louis is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota |
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