Cleveland Guardians vs Minnesota Twins Picks and Predictions September 17th 2024

Cleveland comes into this AL Central matchup vs. the Twins looking to extend their three-game winning streak. They are 87-64 and will be starting Gavin Williams, while the Twins are 79-71 and Zebby Matthews on the mound. Tuesday’s money line odds have the Guardians at -129, while the Twins are the slight underdog at +110. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs.

BSGL will be televising Tuesday’s game, which is set to get underway at 6:40 PM ET from Progressive Field in Cleveland. The forecast for the game calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 70s.

Minnesota vs. Cleveland Key Information

• Teams: Twins at Guardians
• Where: Progressive Field Cleveland
• Date: Tuesday, September 17th
• Betting Odds CLE -129 | MIN +110 O/U 8.5

The Twins Can Win If…

Right-hander Zebby Matthews gets the start for the Twins today as he faces the Guardians on the road. Matthews has made six starts and six appearances this year, and his ERA is 7.11. Opponents are batting .322 this year off Matthews, and his record is 1-3. In his last outing, Matthews finished with a no-decision, giving up two earned runs in 3 1/3 innings of work. Before that, he had lost three straight starts. The right-hander has been hit hard at home, with an ERA of 12.82 compared to 5.4 on the road.

Carlos Santana has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 9/29 in his last eight games with two home runs and five RBIs. He is also on a six-game hitting streak. For the season, Santana is batting .243 with a team-high 22 home runs and 65 RBIs. Ryan Jeffers and Willi Castro are also near the top of the Twins’ home run and RBI leaderboards.

As a team, the Twins are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 11th in the league. They are also among the league leaders in team batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Currently, they are the 9th ranked home run hitting team in the league.

• The Twins are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Twins are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Minnesota has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Twins have an average of 4.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Twins are 3-7
• Looking back across the Twins last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Minnesota has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Twins have averaged 3.5 runs per game on offense

The Guardians Can Win If…

Cleveland is sending Gavin Williams to the mound today vs. the Twins, and he comes into the game with a record of 3-9 and an ERA of 5.24. Williams has made 14 starts this year and has a WHIP of 1.39. Looking at his overall numbers, Williams has a batting average allowed of .245 and has issued 3.86 walks per nine innings compared to 9.51 strikeouts. In his last outing, Williams gave up three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. He took the loss in that outing. Before that, he had won two straight starts. At home, Williams is 0-6 with a 7.55 ERA.

Jose Ramirez has been one of the league’s top power threats this season, as his 35 homers are 7th best in the league and the most on the Guardians roster. He is also 4th in the league with 107 RBIs. Ramirez has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 11/36 in his last nine games, with one home run. Lane Thomas has also been a key run producer of late, with 10 RBIs in his last nine games.

For the season, the Guardians are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 14th in the league. They have been a better offensive team at home, averaging 4.8 runs per game. As a team, they are batting just .238 and have the league’s worst BABIP.

• The Guardians are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Guardians are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Cleveland has an over/under record of 1-8-1 in their last ten games.
• The Guardians have an average of 3.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Guardians are 6-4
• Looking back across the Guardians last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Cleveland has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Guardians have averaged 3.3 runs per game on offense

Cleveland Guardians on the Verge of Playoff Berth as They Face Twins

The Cleveland Guardians are closing in on a playoff spot as they prepare for Game 2 of their four-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night. After a thrilling 4-3 comeback win in the series opener, Cleveland’s magic number to clinch a postseason berth has been reduced to just two. With a win tonight and some help from other teams, the Guardians could secure their place in the playoffs.

Kyle Manzardo’s Heroics Fuel Guardians’ Comeback

Monday’s victory was powered by Kyle Manzardo, who blasted a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning to complete the Guardians’ rally. Manzardo, playing in just his 43rd career game, has made a significant impact since being called up for his second stint in the majors this season. All three of his home runs have come in September, giving Cleveland a much-needed offensive boost as they push toward the postseason.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt praised his team’s fight, saying, “These guys have stepped up night after night all year long.” The Guardians’ determination has been evident throughout the season, and their 8-2 season series record against Minnesota speaks volumes about their ability to rise to the occasion.

Gavin Williams Starts for Cleveland

On the mound for the Guardians will be Gavin Williams (3-9, 5.23 ERA), who has had an up-and-down season. Williams is coming off two consecutive rough outings, where he allowed eight runs over six innings combined. However, he showed his potential in an earlier victory against Minnesota in August, pitching six strong innings. Manager Vogt emphasized the need for Williams to “get ahead in the count and avoid hard contact” as the team looks to stay in control of the game.

If Williams struggles, Cleveland’s bullpen has proven more than capable of stepping up. Guardians relievers were lights-out in Monday’s win, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings, and the bullpen has posted a stellar 0.28 ERA over the last seven games. Closer Emmanuel Clase continues to be a force, tying a franchise record with his 46th save of the season on Monday.

Zebby Matthews Takes the Mound for Minnesota

The Twins, who currently hold the final AL wild-card spot, will send Zebby Matthews (1-3, 7.11 ERA) to the mound. Matthews had a promising start to his major league career, but his recent outings have been shaky. Over his last three starts, Matthews has allowed 15 earned runs in just 10 1/3 innings, including two solo home runs in his last appearance against the Los Angeles Angels. The Twins desperately need a strong performance from Matthews to avoid slipping further in the playoff race.

Minnesota’s offense struggled in the series opener, managing just three runs in the third inning and leaving 10 runners on base. With their playoff hopes on the line, they’ll need to find more consistency at the plate. One bright spot for the Twins has been Kyle Farmer, who is 10-for-23 over his last eight games. However, they’ll need more players to step up if they hope to avoid another loss.

Key Players and Injuries

• For Cleveland, Angel Martinez has been a standout since being called up, recording five hits in his last two games while filling in for the injured Steven Kwan (back). Martinez’s production has been critical for a Guardians team looking to finish the regular season strong.
• Kyle Farmer remains one of Minnesota’s most consistent hitters, but the Twins need more contributions from their lineup to avoid a late-season collapse.

What’s at Stake?

The Guardians are on the brink of clinching a playoff berth, and a win tonight could bring them one step closer to securing their spot in the postseason. On the other hand, the Twins are fighting to stay in the wild-card race, and a loss would further damage their chances of securing a playoff spot.

With both teams highly motivated and key players stepping up, Game 2 of this series promises to be another exciting contest. Can the Guardians continue their dominance over Minnesota and punch their ticket to the playoffs? Or will the Twins find a way to stay in the hunt?

The Lean

Today’s game between the Twins and Guardians should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 4th highest-scoring game of the day. For an over/under pick, we are leaning towards the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Twins to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, we have Gavin Williams as our highest projected starter in terms of strikeouts.