Chicago Cubs vs Minnesota Twins Picks and Predictions August 7th 2024

Cubs finish off winning homestand vs. Twins

Wednesday’s interleague matchup between the Twins and Cubs is set to get started at 2:20 PM ET from Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. The Twins are 63-49 this season, while the Cubs are 56-60. Javier Assad is starting for the Cubs, and the Twins are going with Joe Ryan.

Minnesota is favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -142 compared to the Cubs at +120. The over/under line is currently at 7 runs, and the game can be seen on MARQ.

Minnesota vs. Chicago Key Information

• Teams: Twins at Cubs
• Where: Wrigley Field Chicago
• Date: Wednesday, August 7th
• Betting Odds MIN -142 | CHC +120 O/U 7

The Twins Can Win If…

Right-hander Joe Ryan gets the start for the Twins today as he faces the Cubs on the road. He has made 22 starts this season and has a record of 7-7 with a 3.59 ERA. Ryan’s WHIP for the season is currently .99. In his 22 appearances, he has turned in 13 quality starts and is averaging 9.81 strikeouts per nine innings. Ryan’s last outing came against the White Sox, where he picked up the win, going 6 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight starts.

Minnesota’s offense has been one of the best in the league this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 5th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.1 runs per game. Overall, they are 8th in home runs and have the league’s 8th best team batting average. The Twins also do a good job of putting the ball in play, as their 8 strikeouts per game is the 9th best mark in the league.

Over his last seven games, Royce Lewis has three home runs and 11 RBIs while batting .250. For the season, he is batting .280 with 14 homers. Ryan Jeffers is also having a good year power-wise, as his 16 homers is the best mark on the team, and he has driven in 52 runs.

• The Twins are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Twins are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Minnesota has an over/under record of 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
• The Twins have an average of 7.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Twins are 5-5
• Looking back across the Twins last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Minnesota has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Twins have averaged 3.8 runs per game on offense

The Cubs Can Win If…

Right-hander Javier Assad gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces the Twins at home. He has made 20 starts this season and has a record of 5-3 with a 3.19 ERA. Opponents are batting .240 this season off Assad, and he has a WHIP of 1.37. In his 20 starts, Assad has turned in four quality starts and is averaging 8.12 strikeouts per nine innings. Assad’s last outing came on August 2nd, where he finished with a no-decision, giving up one earned run in four innings of work. Before that, he had given up at least three earned runs in three straight outings.

Chicago’s offense has been pretty average this season, as they are 19th in the league at 4.2 runs per game. As a team, they are batting just .234, which is 18th in the MLB. However, they do have a good amount of patience at the plate, as they are 6th in the league in walks. Chicago’s home run total is also just 17th in the league.

Over his last seven games, Nico Hoerner has gone 10/30, but he has yet to hit a home run during that stretch. Ian Happ and Isaac Paredes are the Cubs’ top power threats this season, with each having 17 homers. Happ’s 62 RBIs are the best mark on the team, and Paredes is 2nd with 59 RBIs.

• The Cubs are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Cubs are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Chicago has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Cubs have an average of 4.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Cubs are 5-5
• Looking back across the Cubs last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Chicago has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Cubs have averaged 5.3 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Even though we have this one as the 3rd lowest-scoring game of the day, we are leaning towards taking the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we like the Cubs to come out on top. Chicago’s offense has the best chance to put up some runs today, as Javier Assad has the best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters.

The Chicago Cubs continued their strong performance at home, wrapping up a successful homestand with a crucial win against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. The Cubs, who had already secured a series win against the St. Louis Cardinals, were looking to extend their momentum as they faced the Twins in the finale of a three-game series. With a 7-3 victory on Tuesday, the Cubs positioned themselves for another series win, thanks to standout performances from Isaac Paredes and Dansby Swanson.

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Cubs’ Success and Key Performances

The Cubs have been riding high, winning three out of four games against their National League Central rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. Their recent success has been bolstered by strong individual performances that have contributed significantly to the team’s overall performance.

Isaac Paredes’ Resurgence

Isaac Paredes was the star of the game, delivering a powerful performance that included a home run and four RBIs, marking his second four-RBI game of the season. This performance was especially significant for Paredes, who had been in a slump since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays on July 28. Before this game, he had been struggling with a 3-for-27 record at the plate.

“I feel really good,” Paredes said through an interpreter. “Honestly, I was looking for a game like that to gain confidence.”

Paredes credited his teammates for their support during his challenging period, acknowledging the mental aspect of overcoming a slump. “I wanted to do too much,” he explained. “I wanted to impress my teammates. … Day by day, I’m preparing myself mentally to give it my best and always give it my 100 percent and for the results to come on their own. I’m trying to be myself, the same player that I was before I got on this bad streak I was on. … Today I feel a little bit more calm, and the teammates have shown me a lot of support and are pushing me to be myself as a player.”

Dansby Swanson’s Contributions

Dansby Swanson also played a crucial role in the Cubs’ victory, delivering an RBI triple as part of a three-hit game. Swanson’s performance highlighted the depth and versatility of the Cubs’ lineup, which has been instrumental in their recent success.

Minnesota Twins’ Struggles

The Minnesota Twins entered the game with a five-game winning streak but struggled to maintain their momentum against the Cubs. Despite individual efforts from players like Royce Lewis and Christian Vazquez, the Twins were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.

Offensive Challenges

Royce Lewis and Christian Vazquez each hit home runs for the Twins, but the team managed only three hits in total, leading to their 7-3 loss. The lack of offensive production was a key factor in the Twins’ defeat, as they failed to execute fundamental plays that could have changed the outcome of the game.

“It was the opposite,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of the Tuesday game. “We didn’t play good enough fundamentally.”

Pitching Matchup: Assad vs. Ryan

The series finale featured a pitching matchup between the Cubs’ Javier Assad and the Twins’ Joe Ryan, both of whom have shown promise in their recent performances.

Javier Assad’s Potential

Javier Assad, who has been a reliable option for the Cubs, was set to start the game. In his previous outing against the Cardinals, Assad threw 97 pitches over four innings, allowing just one run on four hits. This marked his first career appearance against the Twins, and he has a strong interleague record of 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA over 14 appearances.

Joe Ryan’s Consistency

Joe Ryan, on the other hand, has been a consistent performer for the Twins. He recently ended a three-start winless streak with a dominant performance against the Chicago White Sox, leading his team to a 10-2 victory. Ryan has pitched at least five innings in 25 consecutive starts, demonstrating his reliability and endurance. Against the Cubs, Ryan holds a record of 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA, having struck out 26 batters over 16 innings in previous encounters.

“I think it’s a nice, real step for a Joe Ryan at this point in his career to sit here and say, ‘We expect him to go out and pitch like that,'” Baldelli said. “I wouldn’t say that unless it was the case. It is the case. He’s doing his job and then some right now.”

Conclusion

The Chicago Cubs’ victory over the Minnesota Twins highlighted their resilience and ability to capitalize on key moments. With strong performances from players like Isaac Paredes and Dansby Swanson, the Cubs demonstrated their potential as they continue their push in the league. Meanwhile, the Twins’ struggles underscore the importance of consistency and fundamental play in achieving success. As both teams move forward, the Cubs will look to build on their momentum, while the Twins will aim to regroup and address the challenges they faced in this series.