New York Mets vs Minnesota Twins Picks and Predictions July 31st 2024

Mets aim to sweep Twins in clash of wild-card contenders

Wednesday’s interleague matchup between the Twins and Mets is set to get started at 1:10 PM ET from Citi Field in New York, NY. The Mets are currently on a two-game winning streak and are 3rd in the NL East with a record of 57-50, while the Twins are 3rd in the AL Central at 58-48.

Minnesota is the slight money line favorite today, with their odds sitting at -114 compared to the Mets at -105. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs, and SNY will be televising this one.

Minnesota vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Twins at Mets
• Where: Citi Field New York
• Date: Wednesday, July 31st
• Betting Odds MIN -114 | NYM -105 O/U 8.5

The Twins Can Win If…

Pablo López gets the start for the Twins today as he faces the Mets on the road. He has made 21 starts this season and has a record of 9-7 with an ERA of 4.73. Looking at his overall numbers, López has a WHIP of 1.14 and opponents are batting .241 this season. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits. Before that, he had gone three straight starts without a win. López has a total of 10 quality starts this season.

Carlos Santana and Ryan Jeffers have been the Twins’ top power threats this season, as Jeffers leads the team with 15 homers and Santana is right behind him with 14. Jeffers is also the team’s current leader in RBIs, with 49. Willi Castro comes into the game with a solid batting average of .259 and has gone deep seven times this season.

Minnesota’s offense is 8th in the league in runs per game (4.8) and has been even better at home, where they are also 8th in the league at 4.9 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .252, which is 8th in the league, and have the 5th best isolated power figure in the MLB.

• The Twins are 4-6 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 7-3 in their last ten games.
• The Twins have an average of 3.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Twins are 4-6
• Looking back across the Twins last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Minnesota has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Twins have averaged 2.9 runs per game on offense

The Mets Can Win If…

Luis Severino gets the start for the Mets today and will be looking to build off his last outing, where he finished with a no-decision. Against the Braves, he went five innings, giving up two earned runs, six hits, and two walks. Before that outing, he had won two straight starts. His record for the season is 7-3, and his ERA is 3.58. Opposing batters are hitting .221 off Severino this year. Out of his 20 starts, he has turned in nine quality starts and is averaging 7.01 strikeouts per nine innings.

Francisco Lindor has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 11/43 in his last 10 games with five homers and 11 RBIs. For the season, he is batting .254 with 22 homers, which is 9th in the league. Pete Alonso also has 22 homers for the Mets and is batting .244 overall. Brandon Nimmo has been the team’s top run producer, with 65 RBIs, which is 12th in the league.

Overall, the Mets are averaging 4.9 runs per game and are one of the league’s best home run-hitting clubs. They are 5th in home runs and have the 6th best slugging percentage in the league. So far, they have been a good road team, averaging 5.3 runs per contest.

• The Mets are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Mets are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Mets have an average of 5.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Mets are 6-4
• Looking back across the Mets last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• New York has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Mets have averaged 4.0 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean for this Twins vs. Mets matchup is to take the Mets to win straight-up. We also have this as the 9th highest-scoring game of the day and are leaning towards taking the over. Luis Severino has the 7th best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters, while Pablo López is 10th in our projections in terms of strikeouts.

As the MLB season heats up, the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins are locked in a pivotal wild-card race. With the Mets looking to complete a series sweep, this showdown is a critical moment for both teams. We’ll explore the key players, recent trades, and strategic moves that define this high-stakes matchup.

Mets Look to Complete Sweep

The Mets are poised to sweep the Twins in the finale of their three-game series. Luis Severino (7-3, 3.58 ERA) is set to pitch against the Twins’ Pablo Lopez (9-7, 4.73 ERA), in what promises to be a thrilling contest.

Key Performances in Game Two

Sean Manaea’s stellar performance, coupled with solid relief pitching, led to a 2-0 Mets victory in the second game. Manaea’s 11 strikeouts were instrumental in the Mets’ defensive strength.

Mets’ Remarkable Record Since May

Since May 30, the Mets have posted a remarkable 35-17 record, the best in the majors. This surge has propelled them from 13th in the NL to a tie for the second wild-card spot, trailing only the Atlanta Braves by half a game.

Strategic Mid-Season Acquisitions

David Stearns, President of Baseball Operations for the Mets, made significant trades before the deadline. Acquiring Paul Blackburn and relievers Huascar Brazoban and Tyler Zuber has fortified the Mets’ pitching depth.

Mets’ Bullpen Dynamics

The Mets’ bullpen, led by Adam Ottavino, has been strengthened by these new acquisitions. Brazoban and Zuber are expected to play crucial roles in middle relief, adding depth and versatility.

Twins’ Trade Deadline Moves

The Twins, vying for the final AL wild-card spots, acquired reliever Trevor Richards from the Toronto Blue Jays. This trade aims to bolster a bullpen ranked 14th in the majors with a 3.93 ERA.

Impact of Injuries on Twins

Despite injuries to key players like Carlos Correa and Kyle Farmer, the Twins have maintained one of the AL’s best records (34-26) since May 20. The return of these players in August is eagerly anticipated.

Severino and Lopez: Pitching Matchup Analysis

Luis Severino’s recent outing saw him allow two runs over five innings against the Braves. His experience will be crucial against the Twins. Pablo Lopez, coming off a strong performance against the Tigers, will be a challenging opponent for the Mets.

Conclusion

As the Mets and Twins face off in the series finale, both teams will rely on their core players and recent acquisitions to secure a victory. The outcome of this game could significantly influence the wild-card standings, making it a must-watch for baseball fans.

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