Minnesota Twins vs La Angels Picks and Predictions September 11th 2024

Breakout win buoys Twins ahead of finale vs. Angels

Wednesday’s forecast in Minneapolis calls for clear skies and temperatures in the mid-80s. The Twins are the heavy favorite on the money line at -203, while the Angels are +171. The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs.

First pitch from Target Field is set for 7:10 PM ET, and BSW will be televising this AL matchup. Jack Kochanowicz is starting for the Angels, and he will be facing off against Zebby Matthews. The Angels are 5th in the AL West, while the Twins are 3rd in the AL Central.

Los Angeles vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Angels at Twins
• Where: Target Field Minneapolis
• Date: Wednesday, September 11th
• Betting Odds MIN -203 | LAA +171 O/U 8.5

The Angels Can Win If…

Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz gets the start for the Angels today as he faces the Twins on the road. He has made seven starts this year and has a record of 2-4 with an ERA of 4.89. Kochanowicz’s WHIP for the season is 1.42, and opponents are batting .307 off him this year. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up three earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had a streak of five straight quality starts. Kochanowicz has given up at least one homer in three of his last four outings.

Heading into today’s game, the Angels offense is averaging just 3.9 runs per game, which is 27th in the MLB. They have been slightly better at home, averaging 4 runs per contest. As a team, the Angels are batting just .229 and have an on-base percentage of only .301. Collectively, the Angels have the 19th ranked slugging percentage and have the 19th best isolated power (ISO) mark.

Shortstop Zach Neto and left fielder Taylor Ward have been the Angels’ top power threats this season, with 21 and 22 homers, respectively. Neto is batting .258 for the season, while Ward is hitting .248. Ward has been hot of late, going 14/37 in his last 10 games with four homers.

• The Angels are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Angels are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Angels have an average of 4.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Angels are 3-7
• Looking back across the Angels last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Los Angeles has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Angels have averaged 3.4 runs per game on offense

The Twins Can Win If…

Zebby Matthews is set to make his 5th start of the season and will be taking on the Angels at home. In his first 4 starts, Matthews has taken the loss in each outing. His last start was a 5-inning outing in which he gave up 4 runs on 9 hits and struck out 4.

Carlos Santana has been the Twins’ top power threat this season, as he leads the team with 21 homers and 63 RBIs. However, he is batting just .238 for the season and has gone 7/30 in his last nine games. Ryan Jeffers is also near the top of the Twins’ home run and RBI leaderboards, with 20 homers and 61 RBIs. Jeffers is also batting just .232 for the season.

Minnesota’s offense is averaging 4.7 runs per game this season, which is 11th in the league. They are also among the league leaders in slugging percentage, OPS, and isolated power. Currently, Carlos Correa and Kyle Farmer are both on four-game hitting streaks, with Farmer hitting .438 over his last nine games.

• The Twins are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Twins are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Minnesota has an over/under record of 3-5-2 in their last ten games.
• The Twins have an average of 2.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home 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 Lean

For a money line pick, our lean would be to take the Twins to come out on top as the heavy favorite. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is projected to be the 4th lowest-scoring game of the day, and this line is sitting at 8.5 runs. The Twins offense has the 7th best home run projection, and Zebby Matthews is 10th in chances to pick up a win.

The Minnesota Twins are riding high after snapping a four-game losing streak with a decisive 10-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. As they prepare for the series finale on Wednesday night, the Twins are hoping this breakout win serves as a springboard for the crucial weeks ahead in their pursuit of a postseason berth.

Twins End Losing Streak, Regain Momentum

The win on Tuesday couldn’t have come at a better time for the Twins (77-68), who remain in a playoff spot but are fighting to maintain their position. After losing four straight, the Twins needed a boost, and they got it by lighting up the scoreboard with a flurry of hits and runs. The offense came alive, giving the team the jolt they needed as they head into the most important stretch of the season.

Minnesota currently holds a three-game lead over the Detroit Tigers for the final American League wild-card spot, keeping them in the playoff conversation. However, with 17 games remaining in the regular season, there’s little room for error. The Twins are also six games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central, leaving the division title just out of reach for now.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli praised his team’s resilience after the much-needed victory.

“It was a very good day,” Baldelli said. “There were a ton of positives out there for a number of guys in the lineup, and our pitchers threw the ball well. It’s something really nice that you can jump off of going into tomorrow.”

Team Energy and Dugout Support Key to Success

Baldelli pointed to the team’s energy and enthusiasm as a driving force behind the victory. The dugout buzzed with excitement, which Baldelli believes will be critical in keeping the momentum going through the series finale and beyond.

“The emotions in the game were very good,” Baldelli explained. “The guys were really getting into it. The support in the dugout is very important in keeping this rolling.”

This team-first mentality and positivity in the dugout have been pillars of the Twins’ success this season, especially during their ups and downs. By focusing on the mental aspects of the game and fostering a supportive environment, the Twins are positioning themselves to finish strong.

Playoff Picture: A Race to the Finish

The Twins are currently sitting in a playoff position, but their spot is far from secure. They lead the Tigers by just three games for the final wild-card berth, and any slip-ups could open the door for other teams to catch up. The stakes are even higher when considering that Minnesota is only 2 1/2 games behind the second-place Kansas City Royals in the wild-card race.

With 17 games left, every win is crucial as the Twins try to hold off challengers and secure their first postseason appearance since 2020.

Pitching Matchup: Kochanowicz vs. Matthews

The pitching duel for Wednesday’s series finale will see two rookie right-handers take the mound.

The Angels will start Jack Kochanowicz (2-4, 4.89 ERA), who has shown flashes of potential in his rookie season. Despite his record, Kochanowicz has been consistent recently, pitching at least six innings in his past five starts. He allowed three runs on eight hits in his last outing, a 3-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. Kochanowicz will be making his first career appearance against the Twins.

On the other side, the Twins will send Zebby Matthews (1-3, 7.36 ERA) to the hill. Matthews has struggled in his debut season, allowing four runs on nine hits in five innings in his last start, a 5-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Like Kochanowicz, Matthews will be making his first start against his upcoming opponent. Minnesota will need him to step up and deliver a solid performance to secure the series win.

Angels Facing Injury Woes

The Los Angeles Angels (60-85) have been hampered by injuries throughout the season, and Tuesday saw two more key players land on the injured list. Rookie reliever Ben Joyce was placed on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation, while third baseman Anthony Rendon hit the 10-day IL with a strained left oblique.

Joyce, who has been a bright spot in the Angels’ bullpen, has a 2-0 record with a 2.08 ERA and four saves in 31 appearances this season. Despite dealing with inflammation, Joyce remains optimistic.

“I’m not concerned, just kind of inflammation right now,” Joyce said. “I’ve been dealing with it for a few days. It’s improving, but I’m not at the point where I’m ready to pitch yet.”

Rendon’s injury is his third of the season, adding to a frustrating year for the Angels veteran. His absence further weakens an Angels squad that has already fallen out of playoff contention.

What’s at Stake in the Series Finale

For the Twins, winning the final game of the series could be a vital step toward clinching a postseason berth. While the Angels have little to play for besides pride, the Twins are in a playoff race where every game counts.

With their offense clicking, the Twins are hoping to carry their energy into the series finale and beyond. A strong finish to the season is essential, not just to make the playoffs but to enter October with the momentum they’ll need to make a deep run.

Final Thoughts

Tuesday’s win was more than just a single game for the Minnesota Twins. It was a statement of resilience, a reminder that they still have the fight needed to make it through the final stretch of the season. Manager Rocco Baldelli’s focus on enthusiasm and teamwork could be the key to sustaining this momentum and securing a postseason spot.

As the Twins prepare for the series finale against the Angels, they’re looking to build off this victory and ensure their playoff dreams stay within reach.

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