The Minnesota Twins are set to clash with the Boston Red Sox on Friday evening, kicking off a pivotal weekend series at Fenway Park. The Twins are currently holding onto the third and final playoff spot in the American League, slightly ahead of the Detroit Tigers, who are gaining momentum. Meanwhile, the Red Sox find themselves in a precarious position, needing a sweep this weekend to keep their wildcard hopes alive. The matchup on the mound will see Twins’ right-hander David Festa (2-6, 5.07) face off against rookie righty Richard Fitts (0-0, 0.00) from the Red Sox. The first pitch is slated for 7:10 pm EST.
Twins Rely on Festa’s Resilience
The Minnesota Twins have managed to maintain a grip on one of the three American League wildcard spots for much of the past two months. However, a recent downturn has left them precariously close to falling out of contention. After a challenging four-game series in Cleveland against the Guardians, where they suffered two heartbreaking losses, the Twins are now tied with the Detroit Tigers for the final wildcard spot. They lost a tight game in extra innings on Wednesday and followed it up with another defeat in the series finale on Thursday, further complicating their playoff aspirations.
On Friday, the Twins will turn to David Festa, who has stepped into the rotation due to injuries to key players, including ace Joe Ryan. Festa’s record stands at 2-6 across 12 appearances, with an ERA of 5.07. He has faced challenges on the mound, allowing 51 hits over 55 innings and striking out 66 batters while walking 19. In his last outing, which resulted in a 9-2 victory over the Reds, Festa struggled with command, exiting after just 3.2 innings.
Key Injuries: LF Alex Kirilloff, RF Max Kepler, SP Joe Ryan, and SP Chris Paddock remain sidelined.
Red Sox Count on Fitts’ Fresh Perspective
The Boston Red Sox, still clinging to hopes of a playoff berth, are facing a challenging weekend against the Minnesota Twins. With a record of just two wins in their last five games, the Red Sox find themselves four games behind the Twins, needing a strong performance in their final nine games of the season. Their playoff chances dwindled further after a disheartening 2-0 loss to the Rays, in which they managed only one hit.
To avoid further setbacks, the Red Sox will call on 24-year-old rookie Richard Fitts, who is set to make only his third career start on Friday. Fitts has impressed in his limited opportunities, not allowing an earned run in 10.2 innings. He has walked four batters and struck out four, leaving both previous games with a lead. His ability to maintain composure on the mound will be crucial for the Sox’s chances.
Key Injuries: RP Lucas Sims, LF Mark Contreras, and RP Isaiah Campbell are out.
Strategic Picks for Twins vs. Red Sox Showdown
Both teams enter this weekend’s series under pressure, with the Red Sox possibly holding a slight advantage due to the Twins’ unfamiliarity with rookie Fitts. Thus far, the Red Sox have managed Fitts’s innings cautiously, allowing him just two turns through the batting order before pulling him. The Twins, on the other hand, have struggled, with Festa losing four of his last five starts and often failing to go deep into games. The Red Sox bullpen, despite its recent challenges, may benefit from having a fresher arm in Fitts compared to the Twins’ exhausted bullpen after a grueling series against the Guardians. Therefore, placing a bet on the Red Sox at home seems like a sensible choice.
Consider taking Boston with the money line.
