Minnesota (15-17) at LA Angels (22-14)
When: Thursday, May 10th 2018
Where: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Time: 10:05 ET | TV: FS1
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -147/8
The Minnesota Twins were a Wild Card team in 2017 and had high expectations entering this season. After a slow start to the season, battling cold weather and postponements, the Twins are approaching the .500 mark and are right on the heels of the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. Minnesota will go for their sixth straight victory when they open a four-game weekend series at the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. The Twins offense has also heated up with the weather, scoring four or more runs in nine-straight contests after sweeping a two-game interleague series in St. Louis, outscoring the Cardinals 13-1. The Angels will open an 11-game homestand on Thursday after a 3-2 road trip that improved their record away from home to 14-4. Justin Upton homered for the second straight day and has four dingers and 12 RBIs in eight games this month for Los Angeles. Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario has four homers and 13 RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak and has multiple hits in four straight contests. Center fielder Byron Buxton, out since April 12th with a fractured big toe, could return to the Minnesota lineup Thursday.
Pitchers: Twins – Jose Berrios (3-3, 3.98 ERA) | Angels – Garrett Richards (4-1, 3.93)
Jose Berrios reached the .500 mark last time out with his first win in three weeks at the Chicago White Sox despite allowing four runs over six innings. It was the third straight start in which he has allowed at least four runs. Berrios opened the season with a shutout and allowed zero runs and three hits in three of his first four starts. He won his lone career start against the Angels, allowing two runs over six innings last June.
Garrett Richards is coming off one of his best outings of the season, giving up four hits and striking out eight over 6.2 scoreless innings to earn the win at Seattle. He was knocked around in his previous start by the New York Yankees for nine runs in 1.2 innings. Richards has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. He is 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA in six appearances against Minnesota.
This is a good matchup of teams that have hot offenses right now, and I really like the way this Minnesota team is playing. They are gathering a lot of confidence and I expect Berrios to out-duel Richards in this one and keep the streak going for the Twins.
Pick: Twins +135
BETTING TRENDS:
- Twins are 5-0 in their last 5 road games.
- Twins are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Twins are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
- Twins are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Twins are 5-0 in their last 5 games on grass.
- Twins are 5-11 in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Twins are 1-6 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
- Twins are 0-4 in their last 4 games following an off day.
- Twins are 5-1 in Berrios’ last 6 Thursday starts.
- Twins are 6-13 in Berrios’ last 19 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Twins are 3-7 in Berrios’ last 10 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Twins are 3-11 in Berrios’ last 14 road starts.
- Twins are 0-5 in Berrios’ last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Angels are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. American League Central.
- Angels are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Angels are 16-5 in their last 21 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 overall.
- Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 games on grass.
- Angels are 2-6 in their last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Angels are 2-6 in their last 8 Thursday games.
- Angels are 5-1 in Richards’ last 6 starts.
- Angels are 5-1 in Richards’ last 6 starts on grass.
- Angels are 16-5 in Richards’ last 21 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Angels are 5-2 in Richards’ last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Angels are 28-13 in Richards’ last 41 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Angels are 2-7 in Richards’ last 9 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 9-1-1 in Twins last 11 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Over is 5-1 in Twins last 6 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 8-2-1 in Twins last 11 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 11-3-1 in Twins last 15 road games.
- Under is 20-6 in Twins last 26 Thursday games.
- Over is 13-5-1 in Twins last 19 overall.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Twins last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 10-4-1 in Twins last 15 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 11-2-2 in Berrios’ last 15 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-1 in Berrios’ last 6 Thursday starts.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Berrios’ last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 4-1 in Berrios’ last 5 starts on grass.
- Under is 6-2-2 in Berrios’ last 10 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-0 in Angels last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 5-1 in Angels last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 5-2 in Angels last 7 vs. American League Central.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Richards’ last 4 starts vs. American League Central.
- Over is 6-1 in Richards’ last 7 Thursday starts.
- Over is 5-1 in Richards’ last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 11-3 in Richards’ last 14 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 6-2 in Richards’ last 8 starts on grass.
- Over is 12-4-1 in Richards’ last 17 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 6-2 in Richards’ last 8 starts overall.
- Over is 18-7-1 in Richards’ last 26 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Los Angeles.
- Twins are 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.
- Twins are 19-39 in the last 58 meetings in Los Angeles.
