PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* EARLY AFTERNOON ASSAULT >>> *RED HOT* 19-9 Last 9 Days!
(MLB) Minnesota vs. Cleveland,
Money Line: -132.00 Cleveland (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -132.00 Cleveland (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Minnesota Twins have steadied the ship by winning four of their last five contests, including the first two of this three-game series in Cleveland. Minnesota shut out the Indians 5-0 on Friday night and then won 4-2 Saturday afternoon, to improve to 22-9 on the road. The Twins now look to 'return the favor' and complete a three-game sweep of the Indians this afternoon, as Cleveland swept a four-game series at Minnesota last weekend. Cleveland came into this series having won eight of nine to take over first place in the AL Central but has gone 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position the last two games and now lead the Twins by just a half-game, meaning a Minnesota win will see the Twins regain the top spot in the division.
The pitching matchup: Ervin Santana (9-4 & 2.97 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins and will be opposed by the Indians' Josh Tomlin (4-8 & 6.07 ERA). Santana was one of the AL's best pitchers through the season's first two months, earning seven wins and owning a 1.75 through the end of May. However, he's struggled badly in three of his four June starts. He did win a 4-0 shut out at San Francisco on June 9, but he's lasted a total of just 14 innings in the other three outings, allowing 18 ERs (that's a 11.57 ERA in those three starts!). Santana is 6-11 with a 4.00 ERA in 23 starts against Cleveland in his career (teams are 8-15). Tomlin has had a rough June as well, going 1-2 (team is 1-3) in four starts, allowing 15 ERs over 19 1/3 innings (6.98 ERA). The Indians are just 5-9 in Tomlin's 14 starts in 2017 and in his career, he's 5-5 with a 5.07 ERA against the Twins (team is 7-6).
The pick: The Twins' 22-9 road record is MLB's second-best (only Houston's 27-9 mark is better) and the Indians are just 15-19 at home. The visiting team has won 11 of the 12 games played in this series in 2017 but that seems unlikely to continue. Santana has really struggled this month, while Tomlin (a 13-game winner in 2016) is a better pitcher than he's shown in 2017. In fact, he owns a 2.57 ERA in two starts against the Twins this season. "They've outplayed us. We've got to come out (Sunday) and get after it," Indians manager Terry Francona said. I'm with Terry. Make Cleveland a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Ervin Santana (9-4 & 2.97 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins and will be opposed by the Indians' Josh Tomlin (4-8 & 6.07 ERA). Santana was one of the AL's best pitchers through the season's first two months, earning seven wins and owning a 1.75 through the end of May. However, he's struggled badly in three of his four June starts. He did win a 4-0 shut out at San Francisco on June 9, but he's lasted a total of just 14 innings in the other three outings, allowing 18 ERs (that's a 11.57 ERA in those three starts!). Santana is 6-11 with a 4.00 ERA in 23 starts against Cleveland in his career (teams are 8-15). Tomlin has had a rough June as well, going 1-2 (team is 1-3) in four starts, allowing 15 ERs over 19 1/3 innings (6.98 ERA). The Indians are just 5-9 in Tomlin's 14 starts in 2017 and in his career, he's 5-5 with a 5.07 ERA against the Twins (team is 7-6).
The pick: The Twins' 22-9 road record is MLB's second-best (only Houston's 27-9 mark is better) and the Indians are just 15-19 at home. The visiting team has won 11 of the 12 games played in this series in 2017 but that seems unlikely to continue. Santana has really struggled this month, while Tomlin (a 13-game winner in 2016) is a better pitcher than he's shown in 2017. In fact, he owns a 2.57 ERA in two starts against the Twins this season. "They've outplayed us. We've got to come out (Sunday) and get after it," Indians manager Terry Francona said. I'm with Terry. Make Cleveland a 10* play.
