Chicago Cubs vs Minnesota Twins

The Chicago Cubs have played their way into the basement of the NL Central, but things are different when Shota Imanaga takes the mound. Imanaga has been a revelation for the Cubs as they are 16-4 in his 20 starts this season. Opponents have had a lot of difficulty against him. Imanaga has seen 12 of the 20 opponents he has faced score two or fewer runs. The Twins pitching is light years better than a year ago as just 48 opponent have topped the four-run mark in their 111 games this season. The lack of consistent offense and a game changing pitcher on the mound for the Cubs, has me on the UNDER in this one.

Minnesota goes for its fifth consecutive win after sweeping the woeful Chicago White Sox over the weekend. The Twins have won six in a row versus right-handed starters, and the Cubs have lost four of Kyle Hendricks' past five home starts. David Festa will make his fourth start for the Twins, and he has allowed three runs on seven hits in 9 1/3 innings in his past two outings. Hendricks is 3-9 with a 6.86 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP, and Chicago has lost 15 of his 20 starts this season. He hasn't fared any better at home, where he has a .303 opponent batting average. The Cubs have gone UNDER four straight home games against teams with winning road records, and Minnesota has allowed three or fewer runs in four of its past five games. The Cubs are 10-3 UNDER their past 13 home games. Take the Twins as a Max Play and the UNDER.

Minnesota has won three of four following Saturday's 11-1 rout of the Cubs and Alex Kirilloff went 3-for-3 with two of the Twins' five homers and the Cubs managed only six hits. Louis Varland will try to match his previous outing when he allowed one run on five hits in six innings against San Diego on Tuesday although the Twins went on to lose 6-1. Varland has 20 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings while allowing eight runs this year. Chicago has lost Marcus Stroman's past four starts although the Cubs have given him little run support. The Twins have won nine of 13 at home and the Cubs are 8-9 on the road this year and Chicago has lost 19 of its past 26 Sunday games. The Cubs trail only Oakland for the fewest saves in the majors with five. Take the Twins - Max Play 

Chicago stole a win yesterday to open this series, though they're on a 7-12 slide overall. The Cubs have lost six of their last eight on the road and are 4-10 versus a righty starter. 25-year-old Hayden Wesneski (3.93 ERA) gets the call with the Cubs losing three of his last four starts. Minnesota plays the fifth game of a six-game homestand winning eight of the last 12 at home. The pitching staff is fourth in the majors in ERA (3.36) and starter Joe Ryan (2.45 ERA) has been great with a 47-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 44 innings holding batters to a .191 average. With the Twins 63-41 after a loss by 4 or more runs, back the home team that is in bounce-back mode. Play Minnesota.