There are only 10 games on the slate in the Major Leagues on Thursday, but there are two pretty big divisional matchups going on in the American League. The Cleveland Guardians face the Minnesota Twins in an AL Central clash. The Oakland A’s host the Seattle Mariners in an AL West battle. This betting guide will give some of the best value plays for those two games.
Cleveland Guardians (+120) vs Minnesota Twins (-145)
Cleveland starter Zac Plesac has been very good lately, allowing three runs or less in his last four starts, tossing six innings in each of them. But he’s struggled against the Twins in his career, allowing 16 earned runs over 23 innings pitched for a 6.26 ERA in four starts. He hasn’t faced Minnesota this year, and Twins starter Devin Smeltzer has been hammered in his last three starts, allowing 11 runs over his last 14.1 innings pitched. The Guardians have won the first two of this series, and this is a good number for them again today. Take Cleveland to win again (+120).
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Both bullpens got a workout on Tuesday, as the teams combined for more than 20 runs. Plesac and Smeltzer have both been shaky, and the over has hit in three of the five meetings between these teams, including the first two games of this series. The number for Thursday’s contest is high, but this looks like a good spot to take the over (O10, -105) once again.
Seattle Mariners (-135) vs Oakland A’s (+115)
Seattle has dominated the first two games of this series, outscoring the A’s 17-2 through the first two games of the series. Now the Mariners will start last year’s Cy Young winner in Robby Ray, who has been very sharp lately. He’s 2-0 in his last three starts with a 1.89 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 19 innings. Oakland has lost four of their last five and has just seven total runs in that stretch. Take the Mariners to win another one in Oakland (-135).
Both of these teams have struggled offensively this season, but the total has gone over in the first two games of this series. The over has hit in each of Ray’s last four starts, and the Mariners have been carrying this number by themselves through the first two games of the series. The total is low again on Thursday, due in large part to Oakland’s offensive struggles, but take the over again here (O7, -110).
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
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