Minnesota Twins vs Cleveland Guardians Picks and Predictions August 11th 2024

From Target Field in Minneapolis, we have the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins facing off in an AL Central matchup. The Guardians are currently 1st in the AL Central with a record of 68-49, while the Twins are 2nd in the division at 65-51. Cleveland is the slight money line favorite for Sunday’s game, and the over/under line is at 8.5 runs.

First pitch for this one is set for 2:10 PM ET, and the forecast calls for broken clouds and temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. BSGL will be televising Sunday’s game, and the Twins are looking to even the series after falling to the Guardians on Saturday.

Cleveland vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Guardians at Twins
• Where: Target Field Minneapolis
• Date: Sunday, August 11th
• Betting Odds CLE -115 | MIN -104 O/U 8.5

Cleveland is sending right-hander Tanner Bibee to the mound today vs. the Twins. He has made 22 starts this season and has a record of 9-4 with a 3.48 ERA. Bibee’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.09, and he has turned in eight quality starts. Looking back at his most recent outing, Bibee picked up the win vs. the Tigers, going six innings and giving up two earned runs. Before that, he had gone three straight outings without giving up an earned run. Opponents are batting .220 off Bibee this season. Per nine innings, he is averaging 9.76 strikeouts and 2.29 walks.

Over the past 10 games, both José Ramírez and Josh Naylor have been swinging the bat well, with Naylor going 11/37 and Ramírez going 12/38. During this stretch, both players have three homers. For the season, Ramírez is batting .279 with a team-high 30 homers and 96 RBIs, which is 2nd in the MLB. Naylor is also near the top of the league in homers, as his 26 long balls are 8th in the league.

Overall, the Guardians are averaging 4.6 runs per game and have been a bit better at home (4.8 RPG) compared to on the road (4.4 RPG). As a team, they are batting just .240, which is 14th in the league. However, they have been good at avoiding strikeouts and are 4th in the league in this category.

• The Guardians are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Guardians are 0-5 vs. the run line.
• Cleveland has an over/under record of 7-2-1 in their last ten games.
• The Guardians have an average of 2.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Guardians are 6-4
• Looking back across the Guardians last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Cleveland has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Guardians have averaged 3.1 runs per game on offense

David Festa will be making his second start of the season for the Twins, and he will be at home against the Cleveland Guardians. Festa is coming off a win in his first start, where he went 5 innings and struck out 9 batters while giving up just 2 hits. He has yet to allow a home run this season.

Carlos Santana and Ryan Jeffers have been the Twins’ top power threats this season, as Santana is 2nd on the team with 15 homers, and Jeffers is right behind him with 17 long balls. However, both players are looking to get things going in the right direction, as Santana is batting just .245 this season, and Jeffers comes in at .228 and has gone just 2/14 in his last four games. Santana has gone 6/22 in his last six games, including one homer.

Minnesota’s offense has been very good at home this season, averaging 5.1 runs per game, which is 4th in the league. Overall, they are 7th in the league at 4.9 runs per contest. The Twins have been one of the top home run-hitting teams in the league this season and are also among the league leaders in team OPS and slugging percentage.

• The Twins are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Twins are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Minnesota has an over/under record of 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
• The Twins have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Twins are 4-6
• Looking back across the Twins last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Minnesota has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Twins have averaged 3.6 runs per game on offense

The Cleveland Guardians are gearing up to take on the Minnesota Twins this Sunday, hoping to even things up in their four-game series in Minneapolis. After snapping a season-high seven-game losing streak with a tight 2-1 win on Saturday, the Guardians are looking to keep the momentum going as they stay in the thick of the tight American League Central race.

Guardians Counting on Tanner Bibee for a Strong Start

Tanner Bibee has been one of Cleveland’s most reliable arms this season, and he’ll be back on the mound after missing his last start due to shoulder soreness. The 25-year-old right-hander comes into the game with a solid 9-4 record and a 3.48 ERA, plus 132 strikeouts over 121 1/3 innings.

Bibee’s return is a big deal for the Guardians, especially after a tough week. His last outing on July 29 saw him hold the Detroit Tigers to just two runs over six innings, leading to an 8-4 win for Cleveland. He’s got a good track record against the Twins too, with a 1-0 record and a 2.96 ERA in five career starts against them.

Guardians Get a Much-Needed Boost from Recent Win

Breaking that seven-game losing streak was a huge morale boost for the Guardians. Manager Stephen Vogt was visibly relieved after Saturday’s win, which helped Cleveland maintain their 2.5-game lead over the second-place Twins in the AL Central. Vogt acknowledged how tough the losing streak was on the team, especially with back-to-back doubleheaders that really tested their depth.

The win was kicked off by a leadoff home run from outfielder Steven Kwan, who sent the second pitch of the game sailing into the right-field stands. Kwan’s early homer set the tone for the game, giving the Guardians the lead and the spark they needed to pull off the victory.

Twins Relying on Rookie David Festa Amid Injury Issues

The Minnesota Twins are putting their faith in rookie right-hander David Festa, who’s making his fifth start of the season. Festa is coming off a strong showing against the Chicago Cubs, where he tossed five scoreless innings in a 3-0 win. The 24-year-old has a 2-2 record with a 5.55 ERA and will be facing the Guardians for the first time in his young career.

Festa’s role has become even more important for the Twins, especially after the news that right-hander Joe Ryan will be out for “weeks to months” due to a shoulder strain. Ryan’s absence leaves a big hole in Minnesota’s rotation, meaning Festa and the rest of the pitching staff will need to step up in a big way.

AL Central Race Heats Up

Sunday’s game is huge for the AL Central standings. With the Guardians leading the Twins by just 2.5 games, a win would not only split the series for Cleveland but also help them keep their slim lead in the division. On the flip side, a loss could tighten the race even more, giving the Twins a chance to close the gap as the season enters its final stretch.

The Guardians have managed to stay on top despite their recent struggles, but they’ll need consistency if they want to hold off the surging Twins. Tanner Bibee’s performance could be the key to keeping Cleveland in the driver’s seat.

Wrapping It Up

As the Guardians and Twins gear up for the series finale, all eyes will be on Tanner Bibee and David Festa. Bibee’s return is crucial for Cleveland, especially as they try to stabilize after a rough stretch. Meanwhile, Festa will be eager to show he can be a reliable option for Minnesota, particularly with Joe Ryan sidelined.

With both teams battling for position in the AL Central, Sunday’s game is shaping up to be a critical showdown. The Guardians will look to build on their momentum, while the Twins aim to take advantage of their home turf and narrow the gap in the standings.

Today’s game between the Guardians and Twins has the 2nd highest combined runs projection and 4th highest hits projection. Our lean would be towards taking the over. As for a straight-up pick, we would be leaning towards the Guardians to pick up the win. Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee has the 5th best strikeout projection among today’s starters.