Free MLB Picks Today: Minnesota Twins vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 9/24/22

The Minnesota Twins (73-78) host the Los Angeles Angels (66-85) at Target Field on Saturday. The Angels took Friday’s series opener 4-2, their third head-to-head victory in four games this season. Starter Shohei Ohtani went five innings to get the win, giving up two runs on three hits and striking out seven, and Ryan Tepera picked up his fourth save with a scoreless ninth. Taylor Ward was 2 for 4 with two solo home runs in the win. Livan Soto added a double and one run. Jake Cave went 2 for 4 with one RBI for the Twins.

ON THE MOUND

Reid Detmers (6-5, 3.71 ERA) is set to take the mound for Los Angeles. The LHP allowed one run over six innings in his last start, a 5-1 road win over the Mariners on Sunday. He earned the win, yielding four hits while striking out three and walking two. Detmers has made one previous start against the Twins this season, a 5-3 home victory on August 13. He surrendered two runs on five hits over five innings, striking out nine and walking three. Right-hander Joe Ryan (12-8, 3.61 ERA) will toe the rubber for Minnesota. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Angels. In his last start on Sunday, Ryan got the win on the road against the Guardians. He threw 7.2 scoreless innings and gave up three hits, striking out five and walking two in the 3-0 victory.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Los Angeles has averaged 3.0 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 3.8. Against right-handed pitchers like Ryan this season, the Halos have a .687 OPS. Ohtani is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .933 OPS in 352 at-bats. Minnesota is averaging only 2.6 runs per game in the last five, down from 4.3 for the season, with their slash line dropping across the board (.225/.279/.294). The Twins have a .703 OPS against southpaws in 2022. With a .942 OPS over 120 at-bats, Carlos Correa has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Los Angeles is 32-44 away from home in 2022, scoring 3.6 runs per game while allowing 4.1 runs. Minnesota has gone 43-33 at Target Field this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.9. Los Angeles is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the teams at Target Field with an average scoreline of 4.1-3.6.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Angels are third in the AL West, 32 games behind the division-leading Astros. The Twins are third in the AL Central, 11 games behind the Guardians. They are sixth in the Wild Card race, nine games out of a postseason position.