New York Yankees (28-28) -140, 9 at Minnesota Twins (29-27), 7:10 pm Eastern Monday, ESPN
by Zman of Predictem.com
Two teams looking to continue their recent climbs in their respective divisions meet when the New York and Minnesota Twins conclude a four-game series at the Metrodome Monday night.
Baseball Bookies are listing New York and starting pitcher Andy Pettitte as -140 road favorites for Monday’s game, with a total of 9 1/2, while Minnesota and Livan Hernandez are getting +130 as home underdogs.
The Yanks have taken two of the first three games of this series, and both their wins went over the totals. The Twins took game 3 of this series Sunday by a score of 5-1.
New York, winners of eight of its last 11 games, is still in fourth place in the AL East, 6 games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Meanwhile, the Twins, winners of five of their last seven games, are in second place in the AL Central, one game back of the division-leading Chicago White Sox.
New York is 14-16 on the road this year, 22-20 as favorites, but just 22-33 vs. the run line.
Minnesota is 17-14 at home this season, 20-22 as underdogs, and a profitable 35-21 vs. the run line.
Last year, the Yanks took the season series from the Twins five games to two, with the totals going 2-4-1, as the games averaged 8.9 total runs per.
Pettitte (5-5, 4.11), over his last three starts, including a good performance at Baltimore last Wednesday, has allowed seven ER and 26 baserunners (hits + walks) in 18 2/3 IP. New York is 5-6 in Pettitte’s starts this year, the totals 2-9.
Pettitte started once vs. Minnesota last year, holding the Twins scoreless over six innings of a 10-1 Yanks win.
Hernandez (6-2, 4.60), over his last three starts, including a bad outing last Wednesday at Kansas City, has given up 14 ER and 33 BR in 18 2/3 IP. Minnesota is 9-3 in Hernandez’ starts this year, the o/u 9-3.
Hernandez started once vs. the Yankees last year as an Arizona Diamondback, allowing seven ER and 14 BR in four innings of a 7-2 New York win.
New York ranks 9th in the majors in team batting at .264, 14th in team OBP at .332, 10th in team slugging at .417, and is averaging 4.5 runs per game.
Minnesota ranks 6th in the majors in batting at .267, 18th in OBP at .325, 23rd in slugging at .383, and is averaging 4.7 RPG.
The New York bullpen, over the last five games, has been clipped for nine ER and 31 BR in 22 innings of work.
Over its last five games, the Minnesota pen has allowed four ER and 24 BR, covering 24 1/3 IP.
The totals are 20-34 in Yankees games this season, 29-26 in Twins games this year, and 16-15 in games played at the Metrodome.
Zman’s Pick: I’m betting on the Minnesota Twins as a tasty +130 home underdog tonight!