Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees Picks, Predictions, Odds

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees Betting Analysis

The Twins visit the Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, September 8, 2022 for the third of a four-game series.

Minnesota is sitting in second place in the American League Central standings at 68-67, while owning a 28-38 record away from Target Field, trailing the Guardians by two games for first place in the division. The Yankees sit in first place of the American League East with a 83-54 overall record, which has been helped by a robust 48-20 mark at home.

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees Betting Prediction

Minnesota is currently two and a half games behind the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central division. Minnesota is 0-3 SU against the Yankees in this series and are 5-5 SU over their last 10 games. If they cannot manage to catch Cleveland, the Twins are also six and a half games behind the Blue Jays for a wild card berth. The offense has remained consistent throughout the season with a batting average of .248 (12th), on base percentage of .318 (10th), slugging percentage of .407 (10th) and have scored 589 total runs (16th). Minnesota’s bullpen has struggled at times this season and have a WHIP of 1.24 (14th) and team ERA of 3.97 (19th). The right-hander Sonny Gray (7-4, 3.10 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound on Thursday.  

The Yankees enter this matchup first in the AL East standings with a five-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays. What was once a comfortable lead over the division for New York is now becoming a close race thanks to their poor play since returning from the All-Star break. The Yankees have won the first three games of this series and are 5-5 SU over their last 10 games. The offense has averaged just 3.3 runs per game over that stretch, well below their season average of 4.85 runs per game. Despite the teams struggles, center fielder Aaron Judge continues to be a monster at the plate with 55 home runs on the season. New York’s bullpen remains solid with a team ERA of 3.29 (4th). The left hander Nestor Cortes (9-4, 2.68 ERA) is expected to start Thursday.  

After a double-header and with two solid pitchers taking the mound, I like the total to go under in this matchup. I would lean towards the Yankees if I were to pick a side, but New York has been too inconsistent as of late to back here. Play the bullpen in this matchup and back the under.  

Score Prediction: Yankees 4, Twins 2
Best Bet: Under 7 (-115)

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees Betting Odds

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees Betting Resources

• Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022
• Matchup: AL Central vs. AL East
• Venue: Yankee Stadium
• Location: New York, NY
• Time-TV: 7:05 p.m. ET – MLB.tv

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees – Current Form

The Twins grabbed two of three games last Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox, but were tripped up by the White Sox last Sunday. Game 2 with Chicago was Minnesota’s worst in the last six, as they failed to produce a single run. 

The Yankees have dropped consecutive series to the Angels and Rays. The Yankees were the weakest on Friday, when they failed at completing even one single run in game one of a three-contest series against the Rays. Game first with the Tampa Bay Rays was New York’s worst in the last six. They didn’t produce any runs, they allowed a total of nine runs.

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees – Pitching Matchup

Minnesota: Sonny Gray (7-4, 3.10 ERA)

Sonny Gray will make his 23rd start of the season for Minnesota, who’s hoping to find some traction after posting a 7-4 record and 3.10 ERA thus far, while tallying a 1.13 WHIP, 33 walks, and 101 strikeouts across 104.2 innings of action. In Sonny Gray’s last start, the Twins were no match for the Chicago White Sox, losing 4-3 on September 2, 2022. The 32-year-old earned no decision in this game, having tossed four innings and yielded two runs on five hits, while striking out two and issuing one walk. Gray owns a 4-2 road record this season in nine starts away from Target Field. In those away outings, he has posted a 3.27 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, nine walks, and 31 strikeouts in 44 innings of work.

New York: Nestor Cortes (9-4, 2.68 ERA)

Nestor Cortes takes the mound in the series final as he makes his 24th start of the season for the Yankees in this contest. He comes in 9-4 with a 2.68 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, 30 walks and 133 strikeouts over 131 innings of work on the year. The 27-year-old left-hander didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, when the Yankees lost to the Toronto Blue Jays on August 21, 2022 at home. Cortes tossed six innings in the 4-2 defeat by the Toronto Blue Jays, while giving up one run on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk. In his 11 home starts this season, Cortes is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, 17 walks and 66 strikeouts over 65.1 innings of work.

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees – Series History

In the seven encounters between this pair during the 2021 campaign, the Yankees posted a winning 6-1 mark. This season, New York is also 5-1 against the Twins.