Los Angeles Angels vs Minnesota Twins

Minnesota is a long way from home playing its third consecutive road contest. The offense is 19th in runs scored and 22nd in on-base percentage with no speed (last in the majors in steals). The Twins have lost the last two road starts made by Pablo Lopez (4.39 ERA), allowing 6 runs in 10 innings. Minnesota is 21-31 after two or more straight victories and 1-8 after two or more straight road contests. Los Angeles plays its sixth straight home contest. Reid Detmers (2.12 ERA) has thrown very well with the Angels winning four of his five starts. He's holding batters to a .204 average with 34 Ks in 29+ innings. Play Los Angeles as a Max Play.

The LA Angels lost their best pitcher and hitter when Ohtani left for the Dodgers. It has taken a below average team and made them weaker on a daty to day basis as the Halos have opened the season just 11-16. Things have gotten worse as reality sets in as the Angels are on a 1-7 slide in their last eight games. The Angels pitching is allowing just shy of five runs per game. Minnesota has been a hot club and with a win tonight can get back to the .500 mark. The Twins have won five straight games and the offense has caught fire. Coming into the five game winning streak the Twins had scored five or more runs just three times all season, but have done so in all of their five wins on the current winning streak, and have allowed fewer than three runs a game in those five contests. Make the play on Minnesota.

Minnesota is on a 5-1 run with a bullpen that is fourth in the majors in ERA (2.60). Bailey Ober had a rough opener but has been strong since allowing two runs in his last three starts (17 innings, 3 walks, 16 Ks). Meanwhile, Los Angeles is 3-6 at home this season. The offense is 18th in runs scored and slugging, and 21st in on-base percentage, while the pitching is 25th in ERA (4.45) and in the pen (4.78 ERA). Starter Patrick Sandoval (6.75 ERA) has been terrible allowing 39 base runners in 21+ innings. His teams are on a 10-23 run when he takes the mound. With the Angels 32-59 against teams with a bullpen ERA of 3.45 or better, back the surging visitors. Play Minnesota. 

Minnesota was still recovering from its division-clinching celebration on Friday night and sat some of its regulars on Saturday in a 1-0 loss to the Angels, but now it's time to get back to business for the Twins, who are 44-33 at home and Los Angeles is 35-45 on the road and threw in the towel weeks ago. The Angels have lost seven of nine as underdogs and Minnesota is 16-7 in Joe Ryan's past 23 home starts. Ryan has a 3.77 ERA and .227 opponent batting average at home this season compared to 4.84 and .256 on the road. The Angels are 9-22 since Aug. 19 and 31-52 this season versus opponents with winning records and their bullpen has a 4.76 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP, which is third-worst in the majors. Play the Twins.

Los Angeles plays its fifth consecutive road contest on a 1-8 slide. The pitching is 23rd in ERA (4.68) and in the pen (4.80 ERA). Batters are hitting over .300 off starter Kenny Rosenberg (5.48 ERA), who has a 7.20 ERA on the road. The Angels are 30-52 versus winning teams and 54-100 as an underdog. Meanwhile, Minnesota's pitching is sixth in ERA (3.90), on a 7-3 run as they play their third straight home game. Sonny Gray (2.84 ERA) is holding batters to a .229 average and the Twins are 22-7 at home against teams with a bullpen ERA of 4.20 or higher. Play Minnesota as a Max Play.