Minnesota Twins vs Oakland Athletics

Minnesota has won nine of the past 10 meetings and will look to sweep a four-game series with the sinking Athletics after winning the first three by a combined score of 26-8. The Twins come off a 6-1 victory on Wednesday featuring Ryan Jeffers, who hit a go-ahead solo home run and an RBI single. Pablo Lopez is going on the injured list so David Festa is likely to get the start today. He was called up from the minors to replace the injured Pablo Lopez. Festa made three appearances for the Twins in April and allowed two earned runs in 13 innings. The Athletics have lost 10 of 11 home games and they currently are on a nine-game losing streak. Minnesota has won 12 of 17 road games and the Twins are 11-2 their past 13 road games versus teams with less than .400 home winning percentages. Take the Twins.

The Athletics initially looked like a team that might surprise, but after starting the season 20-16, they've stumbled to a 3-22 record in their past 25 games. The A's are 1-11 in their last 12 games, and the pitching staff has been getting lit up on a daily basis, allowing 92 runs in their past 11 games (8.4 per game). At 32-27, the Twins have found their stride. Minnesota's pitching staff has allowed just 207 runs all season and ranks sixth in the majors with a 3.33 ERA. The Twins are #3 in WHIP (1.158), #8 in home runs allowed (0.97 per 9 innings), and they lead the MLB, allowing just 2.5 free passes per game. I like Minnesota in this one.

The Athletics' early-season hopes for a much-improved year are going down the tubes as they have lost 17 of their last 18 games and six in a row after being swept in a four-game series at Toronto. Minnesota has also slowed down, but the Twins still are four games over .500, and they are 10-2 as road favorites of -151 to -200. They wasted a good pitching performance by Chris Paddack yesterday and will have Joe Ryan starting tonight. Ryan is 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP. Minnesota has won its past four starts, allowing only six runs in 36 innings. The Twins are 6-1 in their past seven games after scoring two or fewer runs in their previous game. Luis Severino has pitched in hard luck recently as the Athletics have lost his past four starts, although he has given up a total of four runs in his past three. The UNDER is 5-0-1 in Ryan's past six road starts, and the Twins are 6-0-1 UNDER when he pitches after they allowed two or fewer runs in their previous game. Take the Twins and the UNDER.

Minnesota is on a 9-4 run after thumping Oakland, 10-2. The offense is ninth in runs scored, 10th in on-base percentage, and fifth in slugging. The bullpen is ninth in WHIP, 81-40 UNDER the total after a game where the bullpen was not used. They're also 15-4 versus the AL West and 27-10 against losing teams. Oakland's offense is 28th in runs scored, 28th in on-base percentage, and 19th in slugging. The A's are in last place on a 3-11 slide. They've lost four of the six starts made by Hogan Harris and are 24-61 as a home dog of +125 or more. Play Minnesota + UNDER the total.