The New York Yankees are off to a historically good start this season. But even great teams can have games like the Yanks did last night as they got trounced by the Minnesota Twins 8-1.
But they’ll have a decent shot to bounce back in the rubber match of this series as they hand the ball to ace Gerrit Cole, who has looked close to unhittable since the end of April. But is the price too high to back the Bronx Bombers?
Find out in our free MLB betting picks and predictions for Yankees vs. Twins on Thursday, June 9.
Yankees vs Twins odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The Yankees opened this American League matchup as hefty -200 road favorites but that hasn’t stopped them from seeing action as the line has moved as high as -220 at some sportsbooks. The total opened at 8.5 but 8s have started to hit the board as of Thursday afternoon.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
Yankees vs Twins predictions
- Prediction: Yankees -1.5 (-125)
- Prediction: Under 8.5 (-115)
- Best bet: Cole Over 7.5 strikeouts (-133)
Picks made on 6/09/2022 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Yankees vs Twins game info
• Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
• Date: Thursday, June 9, 2022
• First pitch: 7:40 p.m. ET
• TV: YES, Bally Sports North
Yankees vs Twins betting preview
Starting pitchers
Gerrit Cole (5-1, 2.78 ERA): Cole is looking like his old, dominant self. The right-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his last eight starts, while striking out nine or more batters six times over that stretch.
Dylan Bundy (3-3, 5.57 ERA): After a promising start to the season, the Dylan Bundy we have come to know has returned. The right-hander has surrendered at least four runs and eight hits in three of his last five starts.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Yankees: Jonathan Loaisiga RP (Out), Aroldis Chapman RP (Out), Zack Britton RP (Out).
Twins: Josh Winder RP (Out), Randy Dobnak RP (Out), Miguel Sano 1B (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Yankees are 11-4 when coming off a loss this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Twins
Yankees vs Twins picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Run line analysis
The Yankees were in the middle of yet another lengthy winning streak and it was all set up to hit a great eight. Nestor Cortes was on the mound against a struggling Chris Archer, but the Yanks couldn’t get anything going and the Twins cruised to an 8-1 win. Baseball, man.
Well, the Yankees will be in a great position to rebound tonight as they hand the ball to Gerrit Cole. The right-hander has been dealing since the end of April, pitching to a 2.03 ERA and striking out 11.64 batters per nine innings over his last eight starts. His expected ERA is an outstanding 2.74 and his giving up just a .220 expected batting average to opponents.
While the Twins’ lineup has generally done a solid job when facing right-handers this season, Cole, when in his current form, obviously is a much tougher test than most. It’s the strikeouts that could pose a problem for Minnesota, as the team ranks 20th in MLB when it comes to K% against righties.
The Twins counter Cole with a right-hander of their own in Dylan Bundy. You could say Bundy is doing the opposite of dealing at the moment. His solid start to the season has been derailed by a stretch of games where he has allowed 19 earned runs in 20 2-3 innings of work, while striking out just 17 batters.
That could be a problem going against a lineup led by MVP candidate Aaron Judge. The Yanks rank ninth in batting average, third in OPS, and second in home runs when going up against right-handers this season.
The Yankees are 11-4 when coming off a loss this season, and have cashed the run line eight times in those 11 wins. Bet on them to bounce back in a big way tonight at Target Field.
Prediction: Yankees -1.5 (-126 at FanDuel)
Over/Under analysis
When it comes to the total, the money is coming in on the Under and that’s the way we’re leaning as well. Go out and jump on Under 8.5 while books are still offering it. This is a matchup of two solid offenses, and there is enough pitching here to keep it below the number.
For starters, Cole is not only dominant right now, but he had his way with the Twins last season. The former Cy Young runner-up allowed just two runs on 10 hits, while striking out 15 in 12 innings against Minnesota in 2021.
Plus, we can give Bundy a little credit as his expected ERA is a respectable 3.91. Even though the Yankees obviously have some big bats in Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, regulars like Aaron Hicks, Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo, and Joey Gallo are really dragging down the team's batting average.
Mix in one elite starter and one great bullpen and this game should sneak Under the number.
Prediction: Under 8.5 (-115 at DraftKings)
Best bet
We’ve talked about it plenty already, but Cole has really found his good stuff of late and it’s showing up in his strikeouts. He has struck out nine or more batters six times in his last eight starts. Minnesota ranks 16th in strikeouts per game and 20th in strikeout rate when facing right-handers. At a total of 7.5, let’s not overthink this.
Pick: Gerrit Cole Over 7.5 strikeouts (-133 at Caesars)
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