The Minnesota Twins (27-25) host the Toronto Blue Jays (27-26) at Target Field on Sunday with the three-game series all square at 1-1. The Twins evened the series 1-1 after winning 9-7 on Saturday.
Starter Pablo Lopez went 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out six, to get the win, and Brock Stewart earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
Matt Wallner went 4 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs in the win. Willi Castro added two home runs, three runs, and three RBIs. Bo Bichette was 3 for 5 with a home run and a triple for the Blue Jays. He had four RBIs. Cavan Biggio added a home run and two runs.
ON THE MOUND
Jose Berrios (4-4, 4.22 ERA) is set for the start for Toronto. The RHP allowed one run over seven innings in his last start, a 20-1 home win over the Rays on Tuesday. He got the win, giving up five hits while striking out five and walking two.
Berrios is making his first appearance against the Twins this season. Over two starts against the Twins in 2022, Berrios was 1-0 with a 5.91 ERA over 10.2 innings.
He had 14 strikeouts and four walks. Righty Bailey Ober (3-1, 2.55 ERA) will toe the rubber for Minnesota. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Blue Jays.
In his last start on Monday, Ober took the loss at home against the Giants. He threw five innings and gave up four runs on three hits, striking out two and walking three in the 4-1 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Toronto has averaged 7.2 runs a game, up from their season average of 4.8, while performing better across the board (.323/.360/.556). Against righties like Ober this season, the Jays have a .763 OPS.
Kevin Kiermaier is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .947 OPS in 109 at-bats.Minnesota is averaging only 4.2 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 4.6 for the season.
The Twins have a .726 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .871 OPS over 133 at-bats, Byron Buxton has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Toronto is 14-17 away from Rogers Centre in 2023, scoring 5.2 runs per game while allowing 5.1 runs. Minnesota has gone 16-11 at their home park this season, averaging 5.0 runs per game while surrendering 3.9. The teams have split their last 10 meetings head-to-head at Target Field, though Toronto has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 4.4-4.1.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Blue Jays are fifth in the AL East, 10 games behind the division-leading Rays. The Twins lead the AL Central by two games over the Tigers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Toronto Blue Jays (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
