The New York Yankees (83-54) host the Minnesota Twins (68-67) at Yankee Stadium on Thursday with the home team looking to sweep the four-game series. The Yankees lead the series 3-0 after sweeping Wednesday’s doubleheader. After taking the opening game 5-4, New York followed up with a 7-1 win in the nightcap, their fourth straight head-to-head victory and fifth in six games this season. Gerrit Cole got the win, giving up one run on five hits over 6.2 innings and striking out 14, and Lucas Luetge threw 2.1 scoreless innings to pick up his second save. Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 1 for 3 with a home run, two runs, and four RBIs in the win. Estevan Florial added one run on two hits. Carlos Correa was 2 for 4 with a solo home run and a double for the Twins.
ON THE MOUND
Sonny Gray (7-4, 3.10 ERA) is in line to start for Minnesota. The RHP allowed two runs over four innings in his last start, a 4-3 home defeat against the White Sox on Friday. He gave up five hits while striking out two and walking one in the no-decision. For New York, lefty Nestor Cortes (9-4, 2.68 ERA) takes the mound. He has made one prior start against the Twins this season, giving up four runs over 4.1 innings in an 8-1 road defeat on June 8. He gave up seven hits while striking out three in the loss. In his last start on August 21, Cortes took a no-decision at home against the Blue Jays. He threw six innings and gave up one run on three hits, striking out five and walking one in the 4-2 win.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Minnesota has averaged only 2.4 runs a game, down from their season average of 4.4, while slashing worse across the board (.213/.267/.320). Against lefties like Cortes this season, the Twins have a .709 OPS. Byron Buxton is the team’s best hitter against left-handers with a .917 OPS in 103 at-bats. New York is averaging only 4.0 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 4.9 for the season. The Yanks have a .732 OPS against right-handers in 2022. With a 1.112 OPS over 368 at-bats, Aaron Judge has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Minnesota is 28-38 in road games in 2022, scoring 4.5 runs per game while allowing 4.6 runs. New York has won six in a row at Yankee Stadium. The Yanks are 48-20 at home this season, averaging 5.0 runs per game while surrendering 3.3. In the last 10 games between the teams at Yankee Stadium, New York is unbeaten with an average scoreline of 6.9-2.7.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Twins are second in the AL Central, two games behind the division-leading Guardians. They are fifth in the Wild Card race, seven games out of third. The Yankees lead the AL East by five games over the Rays.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
New York Yankees
Want up to a $1K risk free bet for this pick?
Claim with 
today!
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our MLB hub page for all your baseball needs!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
