The Minnesota Twins are set to take on the Tampa Bay Rays this Thursday at Tropicana Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET.
Minnesota (75-63 SU, 64-74 RL and 70-64-4 O/U) will have right-hander Pablo López on the mound. The 28-year-old has a record of 13-8, boasting a 4.05 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP over 27 games this season.
On the other side, Tampa Bay (68-70 SU, 68-70 RL and 62-69-7 O/U) counters with righty Taj Bradley. The 23-year-old has struggled this season, sitting at 6-9 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP across 20 starts.
Michael Briggs continues his impressive streak with a 26-8 record in sports betting! Fans can check out Briggs’ subscription packages on his premium package page and stay updated on Twitter!
*This article was published prior to the conclusion of Wednesday’s game.
López’s Dominance in the Season’s Second Half
Minnesota has gone 4-6 straight up in its last ten games, yet they remain within striking distance of the AL Central division lead at 4.5 games back. The Twins hold a 36-32 record on the road this season and are 21-20 since the All-Star break. The pressure is on: can they mount a successful push for the postseason with a strong September?
Ranked 8th in on-base percentage (.321) and 7th in OPS (.745), Minnesota has hit 166 home runs this year, placing them 9th in the league. Key players include shortstop Carlos Correa (.896 OPS) and center fielder Byron Buxton (.862 OPS); however, both stars are currently dealing with injuries. Minnesota’s pitching staff has a collective 4.15 ERA (17th) and 1.19 WHIP (3rd).
On Thursday, López will take the mound for the Twins. In his most recent outing, he delivered an impressive performance against Toronto, allowing no runs and only six hits over 7.2 innings. This season, he holds a 7-4 record with a 4.11 ERA and 1.10 WHIP on the road (14 starts), and a remarkable 7-2 record with a 2.93 ERA and 0.91 WHIP during day games (12 starts). His last encounter with Tampa Bay was on June 18, where he yielded five runs on seven hits in four innings. Historically, he has a 1-3 record with a 4.05 ERA in seven matchups against the Rays.
Rays’ Ability to Succeed in Close Games
The Rays claimed victory in the first game of this series, edging out the Twins 2-1 thanks to a solid effort from starter Jeffrey Springs, who limited the Twins to one run and four hits over six innings. Tampa Bay’s current home record stands at 35-37, while their overall record since the All-Star break is 19-22. With the season winding down, can they regain their momentum?
Ranked 22nd in on-base percentage (.306) and 26th in OPS (.674), the Rays have hit 127 home runs (28th overall). Their offense is led by second baseman Brandon Lowe (.792 OPS) and center fielder Jose Siri (17 HR). The Tampa Bay pitching staff has managed a 3.95 ERA (12th) and a 1.23 WHIP (10th) in 2024.
Bradley will take the mound for Tampa Bay during Thursday’s series finale. This season, he is 3-6 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 11 home starts. His last outing saw him struggle against San Diego, allowing eight runs on eight hits in just 2.1 innings. After a strong first half of the season, where he posted a 2.90 ERA and .208 opponent batting average, he has faltered in the second half, with a 2-5 record and a 6.75 ERA over eight starts. He previously faced Minnesota on June 19, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings. Overall, he has a 5.06 ERA in two career appearances (10.2 innings) against the Twins.
Analyzing the Best Bets for Twins vs. Rays
Expect López to maintain his strong performance in the second half of the season, as his 3.50 xERA and 3.38 xFIP suggest he is on the verge of further success. The veteran has stepped up his game since the All-Star break, compiling a 5-1 record with a 1.92 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while holding opponents to a .226 batting average.
In contrast, Bradley’s performance has declined significantly in the season’s latter half, with a 2-5 record and a 6.75 ERA. His strikeout rate has fallen dramatically from 11.2 in the first half to 7.85 post-All-Star break. It’s unlikely he will go deep into the game.
Bet on the Twins to score early and provide run support for López, who is likely to deliver a quality start before handing the game over to the bullpen, which has been effective in maintaining leads. With the Twins averaging 4.8 runs per game in August, placing a wager on Minnesota to cover the 1.5-run line in Thursday’s matchup seems promising.
