How to Bet Braves vs Twins MLB Spread & Expert Pick.

How to Bet Braves vs Twins MLB Spread & Expert Pick

Written by on August 6, 2019

It’s a potential World Series preview on Tuesday night as the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves visit the AL Central first-place Minnesota Twins. Because it’s an interleague matchup in the AL park, the Braves will add the DH. They are underdogs on the MLB Lines.

Braves vs Twins MLB Spread & Expert Pick

Athletics vs Cubs MLB Week 19 Lines & Game Preview

Weather Forecast

  • Sunny: 28°C/82°F
  • Humidity: 44%
  • Precipitation: 0%
  • Cloud Cover: 4%
  • Wind: 8 mph W
  • Stadium Type: Open

Why Bet on Atlanta?

Shortstop Dansby Swanson (foot) will spend the next couple of days receiving treatment in Atlanta. Swanson will miss the first half of the week at a minimum and is still no guarantee to return for this weekend’s series against the Marlins in Miami. Johan Camargo will continue to fill in while Swanson is sidelined.

Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is looking to become the second player in baseball history to have at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season prior to his 22nd birthday. The only player to do so was Mike Trout, who had 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases as a 20-year-old in 2012. Only three other Braves have gone 30/30 at any age, with OF Ron Gant doing it last in 1990 and 1991. OF Hank Aaron was the first to do so, accomplishing the feat in 1963, while OF Dale Murphy also did it in 1983.

The Braves officially recalled Mike Foltynewicz from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday. Shortly after it was reported that the Reds claimed Kevin Gausman off waivers from the Braves, Atlanta summoned Foltynewicz from Triple-A to fill the opening on the roster. Foltynewicz will step back into the rotation Tuesday in what will mark his first start with the big club since June 22.

Foltynewicz (2-5, 6.37) struggled mightily in his 11 starts with Atlanta before heading to Triple-A, but he showed improved command during his time in Gwinnett. Over six outings spanning 33.2 innings, Foltynewicz posted a 2.67 ERA and 31:8 K:BB while not allowing a single home run.

Since the start of the 2014 season, the Braves have the second-worst interleague record in MLB (.389). Atlanta is looking for their first winning season in interleague play since going 11-9 in 2013.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Runs: 5.31
  • Hits: 9.07
  • Walks: 3.64
  • Strike Outs: 8.84
Defense
  • Runs: 4.80
  • Hits: 8.73
  • Walks: 3.73
  • Strike Outs: 8.50

Why Bet on Minnesota?

The Twins and Braves are playing each other in the regular season for the 17th time in their history. The Twins are 7-9 all-time against the Braves in the regular season, going 5-4 at Metrodome, 2-3 at Turner Field and 0-2 at Target Field. They last played in 2016.

The Twins remain without center fielder Byron Buxton. He’s on the injured list with a left shoulder subluxation. Friday. The injury-prone outfielder is batting .262/.314/.513 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI. He does have 14 steals. Minnesota acquired reliever Sam Dyson from the Giants at least week’s Trade Deadline but they just had to put him on the 10-day injured list with right biceps tendinitis. Dyson’s tenure with the Twins hasn’t gotten off to a good start, as he’s been knocked around in his two appearances and is now hurt. To replace Dyson on the 25-man roster, the Twins recalled left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer from Triple-A Rochester. Smeltzer fired six scoreless innings in a win over the Royals on Sunday.

Braves vs Twins should be an easy victory for Minnesota.

Nelson Cruz has hit 30 home runs, tied for fifth-most in baseball. A total of 14 of those home runs have been hit since the All-Star break, the most in baseball. He is on pace to hit 43 home runs and record 105 RBI. Atlanta (5 games), Philadelphia (5 games) and San Francisco (12 games) are the only three teams in baseball in which Cruz has never homered against.

It’s ace Jose Berrios on the mound. Berrios (10-5) struck out 11 and allowed two hits through seven scoreless innings to take the win over the Marlins on Wednesday. Berrios was incredibly efficient, needing only 81 pitches to get through seven innings and gathering 13 swinging strikes. The 25-year-old has a 2.80 ERA, an 8.5 K/9 and a 1.9 BB/9 through 22 starts this season. The 11 Ks were a season-high and both hits allowed were only singles.

It was Berrios’ fourth career start with 10+ Ks while allowing two or fewer hits and no runs, matching Madison Bumgarner, Sandy Koufax and Sam McDowell for the most such starts in the live-ball era (since 1920) at age 25 or younger (courtesy: STATS). Berrios has a 2.23 ERA (64.2 IP, 16 ER) over his last 10 starts (beginning June 6), with seven quality starts. He is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA (13.0 IP, 2 ER) in two starts vs. the NL East this season, and is career 5-7, 3.44 (73.1 IP, 28 ER) in 13 Interleague starts.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Runs: 5.78
  • Hits: 9.56
  • Walks: 3.17
  • Strike Outs: 8.07
Defense
  • Runs: 4.51
  • Hits: 8.66
  • Walks: 2.78
  • Strike Outs: 8.78

Rangers vs Indians MLB Odds, Preview & Prediction

Braves vs Twins MLB Betting Trends

  • Braves are 4-9 in Foltynewicz’s last 13 starts
  • Twins are 5-1 in Berrios’ last 6 starts during game 2 of a series
  • Braves are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
  • The total has gone OVER in 11 of Atlanta’s last 15 games against an opponent in the American League
  • Twins are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 6 games played in August

Expert Final Score Prediction for Braves vs Twins

Score: Atlanta Braves 2 – Minnesota Twins 7