Game: Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Odds: Twins +170, Yankees -200
Total: 7
After a 5-2 loss to the New York Yankees last night, the Minnesota Twins are now one game out of first place in the AL Central. The Twins trail Cleveland and they are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race. The Twins are fourth in the AL wild card race right now behind Tampa Bay, Toronto, and Seattle.
The Twins’ opponent tonight, the Yankees, are still in first place in the AL East-leading the Rays by five games. New York has been on a downward skid since the All-Star break going 17-26 in 43 games. With a win tonight, the Yankees would have their third winning streak of at least three games since the break.
The Yankees’ win over the Twins last night was the third straight game to feature an Aaron Judge home run. The Yankees slugger continues to lead the MLB home run race with 54 dingers on the season. With 27 games remaining in the regular season, Judge needs eight home runs to break the American League record held by Roger Maris. Since the All-Star break, Judge has hit 21 home runs. He’s one Yankee that hasn’t been slumping since midseason.
Judge will go up against Minnesota pitcher Joe Ryan tonight. The Twins rookie right-hander is 10-7 with a 3.88 ERA this season. This will be his first-ever start against the Yankees. Ryan’s last start was one to forget. He gave up eight hits and five runs. Four of those runs came on a grand slam by Boston’s Xander Bogaerts. Ryan took the loss in that game played last Wednesday. Like the Yankees, Ryan has hit a rough patch in his season. Since the All-Star break, Ryan is 4-4 with a 5.44 ERA.
Gerrit Cole will get the start for the Yankees. He has also had a tough time since the All-Star break. Cole’s record – 10-7 – is identical to Ryan’s. His ERA for the season is a very respectable 3.28. In eight starts since the All-Star break, Cole has just not had much luck. He is only 1-5 and his ERA has ticked upward to 3.86. His last start against the Angels is symbolic of what Cole has been dealing with since mid-July.
Cole pitched a strong seven innings against Los Angeles but ended up allowing a three-run homer to Angels’ slugger Shohei Ohtani. That would prove to be the difference in a 3-2 Angels win over the Yankees last week. Cole has started four games against Minnesota in his career. He’s had some success and is 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA in those four starts. However, in his last start against the Twins Cole got rocked for seven runs in 2.1 innings. He allowed a career-high five home runs back in early June this year.
New York has won seven of the last eight games it has played against Minnesota. The Yankees have also won the last eight straight games against the Twins that have been played in New York.
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