The Minnesota Twins struggled in the playoffs once again in 2020. The team went 36-24 last season, but they were swept by the Houston Astros in the wild card round.
Manager Rocco Baldelli and the Twins are looking to 2021 as a year when they can break through and compete for the World Series, or at least win a playoff series in general.
The Twins are an interesting team to see for MLB betting in 2021, as they hold a +1800 line to win the World Series. Here’s a look at some of the things to spot surrounding the Twins this season.
Changes For the Team
The Twins chose not to bring Eddie Rosario back for 2021. Expect highly-rated prospect Alex Kirilloff to fill in the outfield with Rosario gone. Kirilloff has strong fielding skills, especially in the corners.
Nelson Cruz is also a free agent, and it is questionable whether he will return. Cruz did well in 2020 at the designated hitter position, hitting .303 with sixteen home runs. He turns forty this season, and the Twins might be trying to move on and go younger.
How the Offense Looks
The Twins’ offense has a great look that will be very inviting to all MLB betting enthusiasts. Luis Arraez saw strong promise at second base this past season, while Byron Buxton and Max Kepler showed they could be very competitive in the outfield.
Miguel Sano had thirteen home runs last season, but he had a .204 average. He also had ninety strikeouts, a sign that he might be trying too hard to hit for power.
Missing this right now. pic.twitter.com/VQ330dJwmL
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) December 12, 2020
How Will the Rotation Look?
The Twins have a quality trio in their rotation in Kenta Maeda, Michael Pineda, and Jose Berrios. Filling in the other two positions will be a challenge. Randy Dobnak shows some interest, but he has control issues. It is also doubtful that Rich Hill will stick around, as he is nearing retirement.
How the Bullpen Looks
The Twins’ bullpen features Taylor Rogers as the closer. He has settled into the position well since taking over the closer route in 2019. But losing Trevor May to the New York Mets will be a concern, as May had one of the best strikeout rates in the sport.
He got close to fifteen strikeouts per nine innings last season. Whether Tyler Clippard will resign with the Twins remains unclear. While Rogers is the certain factor in the bullpen, the Twins could see a substantial turnover in this part of the lineup.
Should You Bet On the Twins?
The Minnesota Twins will be a great bet at +1800. This team is exciting for MLB betting purposes because they have plenty of quality young players on the roster and a strong trio of starting pitchers.
But the Twins may not be finished, as they could go after another quality player on the free-agent market. With the Chicago White Sox becoming the favorites to win the AL Central, the Twins will be working a little harder to go forward.
You could expect the White Sox to find someone new for the designated hitter position, or maybe someone who can bolster the bullpen or provide further fuel for the starting rotation. Whatever the case, there are plenty of opportunities to explore when seeing what could happen with the Twins in 2021.
*Odds are correct at time of writing.
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Image by: David
