The Minnesota Twins will be taking on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. WGN will be showing this interleague showdown and the action gets underway at 2:20 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins at Chicago Cubs Odds
The Cubs are 46-35 straight up (SU) and 41-39 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 3.9 units for moneyline bettors while earning 2.9 units (ATS). The Twins have gone 35-44 SU this year and are 42-36 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 9.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline, but have gained 3.0 units ATS.
Cubs games have an over/under record of 35-44-1 so far in 2018. Minnesota has an over/under record of 36-39-3.
Lance Lynn is getting the nod for the visiting Twins. The right-handed Lynn is 5-6 with a 4.81 ERA and 81 strikeouts. This will be his first outing against Chicago this year. He did make four starts against the Cubs in 2017, compiling a 0-0 record against them with a 3.66 ERA and 20 strikeouts.
The Cubs are sending lefty Jon Lester (10-2, 2.18 ERA) to the mound. Lester has 74 punchouts and 32 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.08. Lester did not record a start against the Twins in 2017.
Minnesota’s pitching staff allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.29 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 8.82 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.51, along with a K-per-9 of 9.24.
The Twins offense has slashed .236/.310/.396 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game this year, including 3.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Left fielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar continue to lead Minnesota’s hitters. Rosario is slashing .315/.355/.576 with 18 home runs, 52 RBIs and 56 runs scored, while Escobar is hitting .276 with 12 homers, 49 RBIs and 36 runs scored.
For the home team, Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 3.8 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 3.80, a WHIP of 1.33 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.9. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 3.13, a WHIP of 1.29 and a K/9 of 9.0.
The Chicago offense is putting up 5.0 runs per contest, including 6.3 per game over its last 10 games and 9.8 per game over its last five. The team has hit .379/.443/.589 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Second baseman Javier Baez and left fielder Albert Almora Jr. have led the Cubs’ offense this year. Baez is hitting .285/.321/.559 with 16 home runs, 59 RBIs, 51 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Almora Jr.’s line sits at .332/.369/.461 with four homers, 26 RBIs and 44 runs.
The Twins have lost 4.0 units and are 12-10 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in eight of those games, as opposed to 13 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 8.2 units and are 32-31 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 27 of those games, compared to 35 which went under the total.
Minnesota Twins at Chicago Cubs MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in three of Minnesota’s last seven outings.
The Twins have dropped four of their last five games SU.
Minnesota fielders have committed two errors over their last five games, compared to five errors for Chicago over its last five.
The Twins have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
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