Twins vs Indians Picks and Odds – Aug 24
By Robert Duff in MLB Baseball
Updated: March 9, 2021 at 2:24 pm ESTPublished:
- The AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins are -109 favorites to defeat the Cleveland Indians on Monday
- Twins starter Kenta Maeda took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of his previous start
- Read below for odds, analysis and prediction
The Minnesota Twins just keep on winning. As they travel to Cleveland to face the Indians, their closest pursuers in the American League Central Division, that’s got to be a comforting feeling.
Minnesota has won its past four series since being swept in a three-game set by the Kansas City Royals Aug. 7-9. The Twins are 7-3 over their past 10 games.
Cleveland dropped two of three on the weekend to the Detroit Tigers. It was the first time the Indians fell in a series against Detroit since 2018. In fact, Cleveland had won 20 in a row against the Tigers prior to that set.
The Indians are also 7-3 over their past 10 games.
Minnesota, which took three of four from Cleveland at home July 30-Aug. 2, are slight -109 favorites in the Twins vs Indians odds.
Twins vs Indians Odds – Aug. 24
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | -109 | -1.5 (+143) | O 8.5 (-124) |
| Cleveland Indians | -106 | +1.5 (-175) | U 8.5 (+102) |
Odds as of Aug. 23.
Two pitchers coming off the best performances of their MLB careers will square off in the series opener. Minnesota’s Kenta Maeda carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Cleveland’s Aaron Civale tossed the first complete game of his career in his last start. He was facing the Pittsburgh Pirates.
DeShields’ Status Uncertain
Cleveland may enter this big series minus a key component. Centerfielder Delino DeShields was scratched from Sunday’s lineup. He left Saturday’s game with left hip tightness.
Delino DeShields left the game with left hip tightness, according to a press box announcement.
— Ryan Lewis (@ByRyanLewis) August 23, 2020
DeShields is listed as day to day. He was to be reassessed Monday to determine a long-term treatment plan.
The speedy outfielder is batting .250 this season. Greg Allen started Sunday in his place.
Twins Also Hurting
Minnesota took two of three from the Royals despite missing two of the team’s five starting pitchers and one-third of its batting order.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf soreness), centerfielder Byron Buxton (left shoulder ailment) and catcher Mitch Garver (right intercostal strain) are all on the 10-day injured list.
Goodness. Alex Gordon just rocketed one back at Jake Odorizzi, who is being helped off with the trainer. Was clutching his side. Gordon cringed, seeing it happen.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) August 22, 2020
Starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (chest contusion) is on the 10-day IL. Fellow starter Homer Bailey (right biceps tendinitis) was recently transferred to the 45-day IL.
Reliever Zack Littell (right elbow inflammation) is also on the 10-day IL. It’s already the second stint on the IL this season for both Littell and Odorizzi.
Civale Completes Them
In just his in his 15th career big-league start, Civale, 25, came within one out of a complete-game shutout. He held the Pirates to five hits while striking out five in the Indians’ 6-1 victory.
Aaron Civale, Wicked 93mph Back Door Two Seamer. 🚪 pic.twitter.com/lM88WaFfU1
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 20, 2020
Civale had never gone beyond 7.2 innings in any previous start. He’s endured some rough early going in many of his outings this season, posting a 6.00 ERA over the first three inning of his first four starts of the 2020 campaign.
Twins Career Stats vs Civale
| Player | AB | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ehire Adrianza | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Luis Arraez | 5 | 0 | 1 | .200 |
| Alex Avila | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Jake Cave | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Nelson Cruz | 3 | 0 | 1 | .333 |
| Marwin Gonzalez | 4 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Ryan Jeffers | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Max Kepler | 8 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Jorge Polanco | 8 | 0 | 1 | .125 |
| Eddie Rosario | 8 | 0 | 0 | .125 |
| Miguel Sano | 7 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Ildemaro Vargas | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| LaMonte Wade Jr | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Command is a key to Civale’s success. He’s struck out 32 batters while walking only three over 34 innings this season. His .794 bases on balls per nine innings in the best in MLB. He’s 5-0 in his career when Cleveland supplies him at least three runs of support.
This will be Civale’s second start against the Twins in 2020. He took the loss in a 3-1 setback on Aug. 2. Over five innings, Civale surrendered five hits and three earned runs while striking out nine.
Maeda A Made Man
Maeda (3-0) ranks among the MLB leaders in batting average (.128), on-base percentage (.174), OPS (.386) and hits per nine innings (3.979).
Indians Career Stats vs Maeda
| Player | AB | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Allen | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Yu Chang | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Delino Deshields | 2 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Mike Freeman | 2 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Cesar Hernandez | 17 | 1 | 1 | .235 |
| Francisco Lindor | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Jordan Luplow | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Tyler Naquin | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Roberto Perez | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Jose Ramirez | 3 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Franmil Reyes | 9 | 1 | 1 | .111 |
| Carlos Santana | 5 | 0 | 0 | .200 |
| Domingo Santana | 5 | 1 | 1 | .200 |
| Beau Taylor | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
He checked the Indians on one hit over six innings, getting the decision in a 3-0 victory on Aug. 1.
🔥 8 STRAIGHT STRIKEOUTS 🔥
Kenta Maeda sets a new @Twins record! pic.twitter.com/lzTnzhnqsI
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) August 19, 2020
Maeda struck out six and walked one in that performance.
Pick: Cleveland Indians (-109).
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
