The Minnesota Twins are set to welcome the Toronto Blue Jays this Saturday evening at Target Field. Fans can expect the first pitch to be thrown at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Currently, the Twins are favored with a moneyline of -139, while the total runs for the game are set at 8.5.
Toronto (66-70 SU, 69-67 RL, and 72-62-2 O/U) will send right-handed pitcher José Berríos to the mound. The seasoned 30-year-old boasts a record of 13-9, with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over 27 games this season.
On the other hand, Minnesota (72-61 SU, 62-71 RL, and 68-61-4 O/U) counters with young righty Zebby Matthews. The 24-year-old is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in his three starts this season.
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*This article was published before the conclusion of Friday’s game.
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Berríos’ Strong Performance Post-All-Star Break
Toronto recently played a four-game series against Boston, managing to split the matches, with a 2-0 win in the finale on Thursday. The Blue Jays have a current road record of 32-37 this season, and they are 15-11 for the month of August.
As the Blue Jays look for consistency, they rank 14th in on-base percentage (.312) and 17th in OPS (.704), with 136 home runs (24th). The roster is led by standout players such as first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.956 OPS), center fielder Daulton Varsho (4.8 WAR), and right fielder George Springer (19 HR). However, the pitching staff has struggled, posting a 4.39 ERA (25th) and a 1.28 WHIP (19th), though they have improved with a 3.48 ERA in August.
José Berríos will take the mound for the Blue Jays on Saturday. In his last start, he pitched 7.2 innings against Boston, yielding three runs (two earned) on eight hits. Despite facing challenges on the road, where he has a 4-7 record and a 4.67 ERA, his performance has been notable since the All-Star break, sporting a 5-2 record with a 2.98 ERA in seven starts. He previously faced the Twins in 2023, achieving a scoreless outing in 5.2 innings. His career record against Minnesota stands at 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA in five appearances.
Minnesota Twins’ Urgent Need for a Comeback
Following a tough series against the Atlanta Braves, where they were swept and outscored 23-13, the Twins find themselves in a challenging position. With a home record of 37-29 this season, they are looking to improve their overall August performance, currently sitting at 13-13.
In the offensive department, the Twins rank 8th in on-base percentage (.322) and 6th in OPS (.750), hitting 162 home runs (9th). They are led by third baseman Royce Lewis, who has hit 15 home runs in just 54 games. However, they are currently missing key players like shortstop Carlos Correa (.896 OPS) and center fielder Byron Buxton (.862 OPS) due to injuries. The pitching staff holds a 4.12 ERA (16th) and a 1.18 WHIP (2nd), with a 3.93 ERA this month.
Zebby Matthews will be the starting pitcher for Minnesota on Saturday night. His last outing saw him allow only one run on four hits over five innings against St. Louis. This season, he has given up eight runs (five earned) across 15 innings pitched. In the minors, Matthews had an impressive 6-3 record with a 2.60 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP over 18 appearances (17 starts).
Predictions for Toronto Blue Jays vs. Minnesota Twins
In his initial MLB appearances, Matthews has shown promise, particularly with his most recent performance. He faces a Blue Jays lineup that struggles on the road, posting a .234 batting average, .310 on-base percentage, and .382 slugging percentage, which resulted in only five runs against a struggling Red Sox team in their last three games. With a strong 13:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, Matthews appears well-positioned to stifle the Blue Jays’ offensive efforts and limit hard contact.
Given Berríos’s potential for regression (5.07 xERA) and the Blue Jays’ underwhelming bullpen (28th in ERA, 25th in WHIP, and 30th in homers allowed), the Twins may have the advantage in this matchup.
Place your bets on the team that has more at stake this Saturday night!
