The Minnesota Twins are set to face off against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night in an exciting MLB interleague matchup. The game will take place at Target Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
The Twins enter the game as -135 moneyline favorites, and the total runs for the game is set at 7.5.
The Cardinals (63-64 SU, 63-64 RL, and 60-63-4 O/U) will send right-hander Sonny Gray to the mound. The 34-year-old pitcher holds a record of 11-8, with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP across 23 starts this season.
On the other side, the Twins (71-56 SU, 61-66 RL, and 66-57-4 O/U) will counter with righty Pablo López. The 28-year-old has also achieved an 11-8 record, but with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over his 25 starts.
*This article was published prior to the conclusion of Friday night’s game.
Cardinals Struggling to Find Their Footing
The Cardinals managed to secure two victories against the Brewers in their last series, narrowing the gap to just one game under .500. However, they have faced difficulties in the second half of the season, posting a 13-18 record. This leaves them with a steep hill to climb if they hope to re-enter the National League playoff conversation.
Currently, St. Louis ranks 16th in on-base percentage at .310 and 19th in on-base plus slugging at .698. Key players include shortstop Masyn Winn (.745 OPS and 4.2 WAR), catcher William Contreras (.840 OPS and 2.8 WAR), and third baseman Nolan Arenado (.730 OPS and 2.1 WAR). The pitching staff has a collective ERA of 4.14, placing them 20th in the league, along with a WHIP of 1.27, which ranks 18th.
Gray will take the mound for the Cardinals on Saturday. In his previous outing, he allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings against the Dodgers. Road games have not been kind to him, showcasing a 4-3 record alongside a 5.43 ERA in ten starts. Notably, Gray was previously part of the Twins roster from 2022-23 but has not faced them since the 2020 season.
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Twins Eyeing Improvement in Interleague Matchups
After a solid 11-4 victory over the Padres on Wednesday, the Twins look to bounce back from a disappointing interleague series in San Diego. With a 15-game advantage over the .500 mark, they are only two games behind the division-leading Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. The question remains: Can they close the gap?
Minnesota currently holds the 9th spot in on-base percentage at .323 and ranks 6th in OPS at .753. However, injuries have taken a toll on the roster, sidelining star players like shortstop Carlos Correa (3.4 WAR) and center fielder Byron Buxton (3.3 WAR), alongside third baseman Brooke Lee and left fielder Alex Kiriloff. Their pitching staff has a 4.09 ERA, placing them 17th, but they rank 2nd in WHIP at 1.17 this season.
López will be the starting pitcher for the Twins on Saturday. He has recorded a 4-4 record at home with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 11 starts this year. In his last appearance, he delivered a scoreless six-inning performance against Texas, showcasing his potential. López faced the Cardinals once last season, allowing only one run on four hits in a six-inning victory.
Odds and Predictions for Cardinals vs. Twins
Despite not being at full strength, the Twins have demonstrated solid performance lately, winning series against teams like the Royals and Rangers. After a rest day, their bullpen should be well-prepared, barring any overuse in Friday’s game.
The Twins’ lineup showcased resilience in their recent game against the Padres, scoring 11 runs on 18 hits. They have performed well at home this season, boasting a .268 batting average, a .339 on-base percentage, a .461 slugging percentage, and an .800 OPS. In August, they have a 123 wRC+ with the sixth-highest team OPS of .789 against right-handed pitchers. Given Gray’s challenges away from home and their familiarity with him, the Twins are likely to capitalize on their offensive opportunities.
In contrast, the Cardinals have struggled against right-handers, recording a .668 OPS and an 89 wRC+ in the past month. López has shown signs of improvement since the All-Star break, with a xERA of 3.56 that is 0.91 points lower than his actual ERA, suggesting positive results may be forthcoming. This matchup could be favorable for the Twins.
A wager on the Twins’ moneyline is advisable up to -145 odds.
