Minnesota Twins vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Predictions August 26th 2024

Twins aim to put late loss behind them as Braves come to town

There is an interleague matchup between the Braves and Twins on Wednesday, with the game starting at 7:40 PM ET from Target Field in Minneapolis. Both teams are 72-60, and the Twins are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. The Braves have won two straight and they are favored on the money line (-146), while the Twins are the slight underdogs (+124).

Wednesday’s over/under line is sitting at 7.5 runs, and the forecast for the game in Minneapolis calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 80s. Chris Sale will start for the Braves, while the Twins are sending David Festa to the mound. Sale is making his Braves debut after being acquired from the Red Sox. BSN will be televising the game.

Atlanta vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Braves at Twins
• Where: Target Field Minneapolis
• Date: Wednesday, August 28th
• Betting Odds ATL -146 | MIN +124 O/U 7.5

The Braves Can Win If…

Chris Sale gets the start for the Braves today as he faces the Twins on the road. He has made 24 starts this season and has a record of 14-3 with an ERA of 2.62. Sale’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.02. In his 24 appearances, he has turned in 14 quality starts and is averaging 11.64 strikeouts per nine innings. Sale’s last outing came against the Nationals, where he finished with a no-decision, giving up two earned runs in seven innings of work. Before that, he had gone six straight starts without taking a loss.

Marcell Ozuna has been the Braves’ top hitter this season, batting .308 with 37 home runs and 98 RBIs. Matt Olson is also a power threat in the lineup, as he has 23 homers this season, but he is batting just .231. Olson has gone 9/35 in his last nine games, including two homers and 10 RBIs.

As a team, the Braves are averaging 4.3 runs per game and are 4th in the league in home runs. They have been a better offensive team on the road this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game. Over the past nine games, Ramon Laureano has gone 12/35, and Whit Merrifield has gone 13/35.

• The Braves are 8-2 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Braves are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Atlanta has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
• The Braves have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Braves are 7-3
• Looking back across the Braves last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Atlanta has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Braves have averaged 6.0 runs per game on offense

The Twins Can Win If…

Right-hander David Festa gets the start for the Twins today as he faces off against the Braves at home. Festa has made seven starts this year and has a record of 2-3 with an ERA of 5.20. In his last outing, he took the loss, going 3 2/3 innings and giving up three earned runs on three hits. Festa has allowed at least one homer in each of his last three outings. Opponents are batting .242 this year off Festa, and his ERA at home is 6.19 compared to 4.05 on the road.

For the season, the Twins are averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 7th in the league. They have been even better at home, putting up 5.1 runs per game, which is 4th in the league. Minnesota is also one of the league’s top home run hitting teams, as they are 7th in the league in homers. As a team, the Twins are batting .253, which is 6th in the league.

Carlos Santana, Ryan Jeffers, and Willi Castro are the Twins’ top three home run hitters this season, and all three are looking to continue their strong recent play. Jeffers and Castro have gone deep in two of their past six games, while Santana has a three-game hitting streak and has gone deep three times in his last five games. Over this stretch, he is 8/21 (.381).

• The Twins are 3-7 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 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Twins have an average of 4.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Twins are 5-5
• Looking back across the Twins last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Minnesota has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Twins have averaged 4.4 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean for a money-line pick in this Braves vs. Twins matchup is to take the Twins to come out on top at home. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is our 3rd lowest projected scoring game of the day. Atlanta starter Chris Sale has the 5th best strikeout projection among today’s starters, but we still like the Twins to come out on top.

The Minnesota Twins are gearing up for a critical three-game series against the surging Atlanta Braves after a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. The loss, marked by a crucial error in the ninth inning, left the Twins reeling, but there’s little time to dwell on past mistakes as they face a formidable opponent in the Braves.

Minnesota Twins: Moving Past a Tough Loss

The Twins’ loss to the Cardinals was a tough pill to swallow. A throwing error by second baseman Edouard Julien in the ninth inning opened the door for the Cardinals to score two runs, erasing what had been a 2-1 lead and handing the Twins a frustrating defeat.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli acknowledged the difficulty of the loss but emphasized the importance of moving forward quickly. “It’s going to be a hard loss,” Baldelli admitted. “But with games to come, there’s not going to be a lot of time to dwell on it. I hope our team is not going to dwell on it.”

As the Twins prepare to host the Braves, the pressure is on to regroup and focus on the series ahead. Despite the setback, there’s a clear understanding that the team must put the loss behind them and concentrate on the task at hand.

Atlanta Braves: Riding High Despite Recent Setback

In contrast, the Atlanta Braves enter this series with momentum on their side, having won six of their last eight games. However, they are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Washington Nationals, which snapped their bid for a series sweep.

The Braves have been one of the strongest teams in the league this season, and they’ll look to continue their winning ways against the Twins. Their lineup has been firing on all cylinders, and their pitching, led by Max Fried, has been solid despite some recent hiccups.

Pitching Duel: Max Fried vs. Bailey Ober

The opening game of the series will feature an intriguing pitching matchup between Braves’ left-hander Max Fried and Twins’ right-hander Bailey Ober.

Max Fried (7-7, 3.57 ERA) has been a key figure in the Braves’ rotation. After a rough stretch where he went 0-4 with a 6.31 ERA over five starts, Fried bounced back in his last outing against the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing just two runs on four hits over seven innings. His performance had Braves manager Brian Snitker declaring, “Max is back,” signaling a return to form for the 30-year-old pitcher.

Fried has only faced the Twins once in his career, back in August 2019, where he secured a win by allowing three unearned runs over 5 1/3 innings while striking out 10. The Braves are hoping for a similar performance as they look to start the series strong.

Bailey Ober (12-5, 3.54 ERA) will take the mound for the Twins, bringing with him an impressive streak of 11 consecutive quality starts. In that span, Ober has gone 7-1 with a 2.09 ERA, showcasing his reliability as a starter. However, this will be Ober’s first career start against the Braves, and he’ll need to be at his best to counter their potent offense.

Game Recap: Braves Power Past Twins in Series Opener

In the opening game of the series, the Braves demonstrated why they’re one of the top teams in baseball, securing a 10-6 victory over the Twins. The game, which was delayed by rain, saw the Braves jump out to an early lead and never look back.

Matt Olson was the star of the night for Atlanta, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, and five RBIs. Olson’s three-run homer in the first inning set the tone, and he continued to drive in runs throughout the game, playing a pivotal role in the Braves’ offense.

Despite a valiant effort by the Twins to close the gap, including solo home runs from Kyle Farmer and Matt Wallner, the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Bailey Ober struggled in his start, giving up nine runs on seven hits in just two innings, ending his streak of quality starts.

Max Fried earned his 70th career victory, allowing three runs (one earned) over five innings while striking out seven. His solid performance, combined with Atlanta’s explosive offense, was more than enough to secure the win.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Twins and Braves?

For the Twins, the loss marks their second in a row, and with the series against the Braves continuing, they’ll need to find a way to bounce back quickly. The team’s resilience will be tested as they aim to avoid a series sweep and keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Braves, on the other hand, are in a strong position. With their offense clicking and Max Fried back in form, they’ll be looking to continue their winning streak and solidify their status as one of the league’s elite teams.

However, there is a potential concern for the Braves with center fielder Michael Harris II. Harris was hit by a pitch in their previous game and left with left hand soreness. While initial tests showed no fracture, his availability for the rest of the series remains uncertain. Harris has been an important part of the Braves’ lineup, and any extended absence could impact their depth.

Conclusion

The Twins face a tough challenge as they try to rebound from a heartbreaking loss and a rough start to the series against the Braves. As the series continues, Minnesota’s ability to move past adversity and perform under pressure will be key. Meanwhile, the Braves will aim to keep their momentum going and continue their push toward the playoffs, relying on strong pitching and an explosive offense.

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