The Minnesota Twins continued their mastery over the Texas Rangers with a 3-2 victory on Thursday night, their third win over the Rangers in four tries.
Runs have come at a premium during their season series, but my Twins vs. Rangers predictions and MLB picks for Friday, August 16 expect the bats to come alive.
Twins vs Rangers prediction
My best bet
Over 8.5 (+100 at bet365)
My analysis
The season series between the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers has been a low-scoring one, as none of their previous four bouts cleared 9+ runs. But that could change tonight against two shaky bullpens and two average starters in Twins righty Simeon Woods-Richardson and Rangers lefty Andrew Heaney.
Woods-Richardson has fared better at Target Field than elsewhere; he enjoys fewer strikeouts on the road (6.99 per nine innings) than at home (8.99) with eight walks and four bombs across his past 23 2/3 away frames. He’ll turn it over to a bullpen allowing 52 earned runs and 11 taters across its last 88 frames.
The Rangers’ bats have underwhelmed this season as they plate a tick over four runs at home but haven’t scored four runs in each of their past five at Globe Life. But Texas boasts some power with above-average walk and strikeout rates and should have scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Heaney has allowed seven earned runs across his past five starts but his 4.29 home xFIP could be problematic because the Rangers’ real issue is their bullpen. The relief corps has coughed up 63 runs with 20 bombs and 64 walks across its last 109 2/3 innings and that won’t work against Minnesota.
The Twins’ offense has scored 125 runs with the fifth-best walk rate since the break, and they torment both lefties and righties. They’ve scored 20 runs across their last five away games but boast big power (.190 ISO) with an 11th-best 111 wRC+ against southpaws since the All-Star Game.
The starting pitching could be dicey, the bullpens are shaky, and I expect the respective bats to come alive tonight.
Twins vs Rangers same-game parlay (SGP)
Over 8.5
Royce Lewis Over 1.5 total bases
I like a high-scoring affair tonight and Twins 3B Royce Lewis has been hot.
Lewis enters this one riding a five-game hitting streak and bats .333 with a 1.039 OPS and .313 BABIP against lefties on the road. He’s also slashing .260/.328/.644/.972 against right-handed pitching, and he has the chance to have a big day at the plate.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Twins vs Rangers odds
Twins vs Rangers live odds
Twins vs Rangers opening odds
- Run line: Minnesota +1.5 (-210) | Texas -1.5 (+175)
- Moneyline: Minnesota +100 | Texas -120
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)
Twins vs Rangers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Twins have hit the moneyline in 61 of their last 101 games (+9.85 Units / 7% ROI) and are trading between +100 and -105.
- Texas has dropped four of their last five at Globe Life and is trading at odds from -115 to -120.
- Over/Under markets haven’t budged from the 8.5 opener. Prices on the Over range from +100 to -110 while Under bettors will find odds of -110 to -120.
Twins vs Rangers trend
The Twins have hit the Over in 32 of their last 53 games (+11.40 Units / 20% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Rangers.
Twins vs Rangers game info
| Location: | Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX |
| Date: | Friday, 8-16-2024 |
| First pitch: | 8:05 p.m. ET |
| TV: | BSNO, BSSW |
| Twins starting pitcher: | Simeon Woods Richardson (3-3, 3.78 ERA) |
| Rangers starting pitcher: | Andrew Heaney (4-12, 4.05 ERA) |
Twins vs Rangers latest injuries
Twins vs Rangers weather
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