The Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins will play the second of their four-game series tonight, in hopes of creating some space atop the American League Central. Last night, the Indians won a tightly contested 2-0 game on the strength of Shane Bieber’s strong eight-inning performance.
Tonight’s starting pitching matchup is between two right-handers: Mike Clevinger of the Indians and Randy Dobnak of the Twins. Right now, we’re seeing 58% of public bets on Cleveland while 64% of all money wagered is on Minnesota.
Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins
Target Field – Minneapolis, MN
8:10 p.m. EST (Watch: MLB Extra Innings)
Starting Pitchers
CLE: Mike Clevinger – R (0-0, 2.57 ERA/0.57 WHIP this season)
MIN: Randy Dobnak – R (0-1, 2.25 ERA/1.25 WHIP this season)
Odds & Betting lines (According to DraftKings Sportsbook)
Total: 9 runs | Over: -110 | Under: -110
CLE | Moneyline: -122| Run Line (-1.5): +128
MIN | Moneyline: +135 | Run Line (+1.5): -152
Injury List
CLE: Tyler Naquin -OF (IL), Roberto Perez -C (IL), Delino DeShields -OF (CV)
MIN: Nick Gordon -IF (DTD)
Interesting Stats
Clevinger vs. Twins
The electric righty has been solid against Minnesota, going 4-3 with a 2.79 ERA in 14 appearances (11 starts). At Target Field, he owns a 2-1 record and 3.60 ERA in six appearances (five starts). The current Twins roster has a combined .197 avg/.286 OBP/.616 OPS with a 28.2% K-rate in 188 plate appearances.
Indians Rotation on Record Pace
It has been quite the start so for the Tribe, especially in the pitching department. Cleveland’s rotation has a 5-0 record and 1.53 ERA over the first seven games of the season. In fact, all of the starters have gone six innings or more and allowed two runs or fewer in all of those starts.
Dobnak vs. Indians
Filling in for the injured Jake Odorizzi, Dobnak has been doing just fine thus far. Dobnak did take the loss in his season debut against the Chicago White Sox but pitched well, allowing just one run on three hits over four innings. Last season against the Indians, he had an 0-1 record and 2.45 ERA in three appearances (two starts.)
Betting Picks
Indians Moneyline (-122)
This one is pretty simple – Cleveland just has the better pitching in this matchup. Whatever is going on in those starting pitching meetings needs to continue. Clevinger has some fantastic numbers against the Twins and I’m looking for that to continue tonight. Not to mention, we’re really not paying that much of a premium for a mismatch in starting pitching.
