Cleveland Guardians vs Minnesota Twins Picks and Predictions September 16th 2024

Matthew Boyd and the Guardians will look to extend their two-game winning streak on Monday when they face off against the Twins, who are 3rd in the AL Central with a record of 79-70. Cleveland comes into the game with an overall record of 86-64 and they are -106 on the money line. Minnesota is the slight favorite at -112.

Monday’s forecast in Cleveland calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 80s. First pitch from Progressive Field is set for 6:40 PM ET. BSGL will be televising this AL matchup.

Minnesota vs. Cleveland Key Information

Pablo López has been pitching very well for the Twins, as he has won his last four starts. Most recently, he faced the Angels on September 10th and picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up four earned runs. In that outing, he gave up one homer. For the season, López is 15-8 with a 3.88 ERA. Out of his 29 starts, he has turned in 17 quality starts and is averaging 9.73 strikeouts per nine innings. Overall, he has given up 23 homers. At home, his ERA is 4.30 compared to 4.85 on the road.

Carlos Santana has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Twins, going 8/18 in his last five games with two homers and five RBIs. For the season, he leads the team with 22 homers and 65 RBIs, but his batting average of .243 is only 11th on the team. Ryan Jeffers and Willi Castro are also near the top of the team’s home run and RBI leaderboards.

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As a team, the Twins are 9th in home runs and are averaging 4.7 runs per game. They have been a better offensive team at home this season, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. Overall, the Twins are 9th in team batting average and have the 7th best slugging percentage in the league.

Matthew Boyd has made six starts this season and has a record of 2-1 with an ERA of 2.18. Coming into the game, his WHIP is .91, and opponents are batting .181 this season. Boyd has turned in three quality starts this year and is averaging 9.55 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Boyd finished with a no-decision, going 4 1/3 innings and giving up one earned run on six hits. He did pitch well in this outing, as he finished with nine strikeouts. Before that, he had won two straight starts.

Jose Ramirez comes into the game on an eight-game hitting streak and has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 6/20 in his last five games. During this stretch, he has one home run and four runs scored. For the season, he is batting .272 with 35 homers and 107 RBIs, which is 3rd best in the league. Josh Naylor is also among the league leaders in home runs, as his 29 long balls are 2nd on the team and 11th best in the MLB.

As a team, the Guardians are averaging 4.5 runs per game and have been a better offensive team at home, where they are averaging 4.8 runs per contest. Overall, their batting average is just 17th in the league, and they have the worst BABIP in the league. Cleveland is also one of the top strikeout teams in the league.

Today’s Twins and Guardians matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 6th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. For an over/under pick, we are leaning towards the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have the Twins coming out on top. Looking at today’s starters, Pablo López has the 2nd best odds to pick up a win, while Matthew Boyd has the lowest projected innings pitched among today’s starters.

Twins, Guardians Send Out Key Starters for Late-Season Playoff Push

The Minnesota Twins are turning to their red-hot ace, Pablo Lopez, as they look to strengthen their hold on the final American League wild-card spot. Lopez, who has been especially dominant of late, will take the mound on Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians in a crucial game for both teams’ postseason hopes.

Minnesota (79-70) sits third in the AL Central, 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Guardians, but currently holds a 2 1/2-game lead for the final wild-card berth. Although the Twins have struggled since mid-August, going 9-17, they’ve won three of their last five games, including a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday to avoid a sweep.

Lopez (15-8, 3.88 ERA) has been a beacon of consistency for Minnesota during their playoff push. He has won each of his last four starts, posting a stellar 2.05 ERA in his past 11 outings. Lopez has allowed just five earned runs in his last six starts and has delivered four scoreless outings in that span. His ability to pitch deep into games and rack up strikeouts has been crucial for the Twins, as he did against the Los Angeles Angels last Tuesday when he struck out 10 and allowed no earned runs over seven innings.

“Yes, our margin for error keeps shrinking, but we’re just in the mindset that winners focus on winning,” Lopez said, reflecting on the Twins’ current situation.

However, Lopez will look to improve on his previous 2024 start against Cleveland, when he allowed four runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-2 loss in April. His career record against the Guardians stands at 2-2 with a 3.64 ERA in five starts.

Matthew Boyd: A Surprise Success Story for the Guardians

For the Cleveland Guardians, Matthew Boyd has emerged as a surprising and much-needed addition to their rotation. Signed in June while recovering from elbow surgery, Boyd made his season debut on August 13 and has since been a steady presence on the mound. The 33-year-old left-hander has been particularly impressive in his six starts with the Guardians, posting a 2.18 ERA and allowing more than one earned run just once.

Cleveland (85-63) is closing in on an AL Central title after winning 11 of their last 17 games, and Boyd’s strong performances have played a key role in that success. Despite a brief hiccup in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox, where he allowed four runs (only one earned), Boyd struck out nine batters over 4 1/3 innings and continued to impress with his resilience.

“The gratitude I have to be here with the squad and to be part of this amazing group of guys, it’s immense,” Boyd said of his opportunity with Cleveland.

Monday’s matchup will be another test for Boyd, who has plenty of experience facing the Twins from his days with the Detroit Tigers. In 23 career starts against Minnesota, Boyd is 9-8 with a 4.62 ERA. He’ll need to be sharp as he faces a Twins lineup that includes Carlos Santana, who has hit .353 with four home runs in his last 10 games and is 10-for-35 against Boyd.

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Key Players to Watch

• Pablo Lopez: Lopez has been the anchor of the Twins’ rotation and will need to deliver another strong outing to keep Minnesota’s playoff hopes alive. His recent form has been exceptional, and his ability to generate strikeouts makes him a key player in this matchup.
• Matthew Boyd: Boyd’s resurgence with the Guardians has been one of the season’s feel-good stories. He’ll need to continue his solid pitching as Cleveland looks to extend its lead in the AL Central.
• Carlos Santana: The Twins’ first baseman has been heating up lately, hitting four home runs in his last 10 games. His past success against Boyd could be a factor in Monday’s game.
• Jose Ramirez: Cleveland’s star third baseman continues to be a force at the plate. He’s hit three of his 35 home runs this season against the Twins and remains a key part of Cleveland’s lineup.

Playoff Implications

Both teams have plenty on the line as they head into the final weeks of the regular season. The Twins are clinging to their wild-card spot and will need strong performances from their rotation, led by Lopez, to keep their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Guardians are focused on securing the AL Central title and maintaining their momentum heading into the postseason.

With Lopez and Boyd squaring off, this game could set the tone for the remainder of the series and have significant implications for the playoff race.