Minnesota Twins vs Philadelphia Phillies Picks and Predictions July 22nd 2024

Phillies look to build win streak at Twins

Even the best team in baseball needs to breathe a sigh of relief now and then. The Philadelphia Phillies, who lead the majors with 63 wins, avoided a three-game sweep by posting a 6-0 road win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Now, the Phillies will look to build a winning streak as they open a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis.

Philadelphia Phillies’ Recent Performance

The Phillies’ latest victory was crucial for team morale. “It was big,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said after the win. “We needed to get back on the winning side, and I think that makes everybody feel good. We’ll have a happy flight and go into Minnesota and start all over again.”

Minnesota Twins Seek Redemption

Meanwhile, the Twins are looking for a clean slate after a disappointing weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers. They lost back-to-back, hard-fought games: an 8-4 setback in 12 innings on Saturday and an 8-7 loss on Sunday.

“Two-game series, we lost both of them,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. “And, looking in the mirror, we should win both of those games. That’s my opinion.”

Key Pitching Matchup: Suarez vs. Ober

Ranger Suarez (Phillies)

• Record: 10-4
• ERA: 2.76
• Strikeouts: 112 in 114 innings
• Last Outing: Gave up four runs on six hits in six innings against the Oakland Athletics, with three walks and six strikeouts.

This will be Suarez’s second career start against the Twins. He lost his first meeting on August 13, 2023, despite limiting Minnesota to two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Bailey Ober (Twins)

• Record: 8-5
• ERA: 4.14
• Strikeouts: 106 in 100 innings
• Last Outing: Allowed three runs on four hits in six innings in a 3-1 defeat at the Chicago White Sox.

The 29-year-old Ober has never faced Philadelphia. In 13 career interleague starts, he is 3-1 with a 3.69 ERA.

Phillies’ Offensive Powerhouses

Philadelphia outfielder Nick Castellanos will try to stay hot after going 2-for-5 with a double and a solo home run on Sunday. It was his 14th homer and 50th RBI this season. Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper added an RBI to give him 63 on the season, second-most on the team, trailing only Alec Bohm, who also drove in a run Sunday and has 71 in 97 games.

Twins’ Challenges and Opportunities

Baldelli is hoping to see a turnaround from his team against the Phillies. In its past two games, Minnesota went 3-for-26 with runners in scoring position. The Twins’ bullpen faltered as well, allowing home runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings in Sunday’s one-run loss.

“We scored seven runs. That’s plenty of runs to win a game,” Baldelli said. “Coming back after the break, we’ve got to play a complete game at some point. We have to really play better baseball as a team. Execute better, make better pitches, when there’s people on base find a barrel somehow. That will lead to winning more games.”

Game Strategies and Outlook

The Phillies are looking to extend their winning momentum. The key will be strong pitching from Suarez and continued offensive support from their star players. For the Twins, improving performance with runners in scoring position and bullpen reliability are critical to turning their fortunes around.

Conclusion

The upcoming series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins promises to be an exciting matchup. With the Phillies aiming to extend their winning streak and the Twins looking for redemption, baseball fans can expect a thrilling three-game set.

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