Tigers vs Twins | Prediction & Pick – MLB Pick – July 23, 2011

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Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins Pick

The Minnesota twins are six games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central division going into the third game of the four-game home series against the division leader.

Date/Time: Saturday, July 23, 4:10 P.M. ET
Venue: Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Broadcast: FOX

Detroit Tigers v Minnesota Twins Betting Lines

Money Line: Twins -135, Tigers +115
Spread: Twins -1.5
Over/Under: 8.5

Detroit is having a year to remember, and are at the top of their division just over half way through the season for a reason.

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The Tigers’ offense has been explosive all year, ranking 4th in batting average and 9th in runs.

Miguel Cabrera is having a fantastic season so far, leading the Tigers in nearly every offensive category. He has 20 homeruns, 63 RBIs and a .432 on-base percentage.

Victor Martinez is another huge contributor to the Tiger’s offensive success in 2011, and is batting .318 on the year.

Meanwhile Detroit’s opponents, the Minnesota Twins, have had a near polar opposite season so far.

The Twin’s offense has been rather stale all year, and has one of the worst slugging percentages in the league, coming in at 27th in that category.

One bright spot for the Twin’s has been right fielder Michael Cuddyer. The right-hander, who is playing in his 11th season in the majors, is batting .299 and has hit 14 home runs in 2011.

On the mound for the Twin’s will be right-hander Scott Baker (7-5). Baker will be coming off the 15-day DL to make the start, and has been fairly decent in 2011. In Baker’s last start, he had a great outing before having to come out of the game because of his injury that put him on the DL. In that game, he hadn’t given up a run through five innings before coming off.

In the past, Baker had struggled against Detroit, with an ERA of 7.84 this season against the Tigers.

Brad Penny (7-6) will be pitching for Detroit in Saturday night’s game, and has had, at best, a mediocre season thus far. Penny has an ERA of 4.47, and has been streaky all year. Penny constantly goes from holding teams to two runs or so, to giving up six or seven. It’s the same inconsistency that had has plagued his entire career, and it doesn’t seem like it will subside any time soon.

Penny has also struggled against the team he will face on Saturday. Against Minnesota this year, Penny has an ERA of 7.50.

Both teams will struggle on the mound, and the team with the more explosive offense will look to take advantage of the middle-of-the-rotation pitcher.

The odds makers have the Minnesota Twins as a -1.5 point favorite with an run total of 8.5.

Matt’s Free Prediction: Detroit– Minnesota doesn’t seem able to pick it up against division foes this year, and they are going up against the leader. Expect Detroit to run away with this one.

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Minnesota Twins Betting Trends:

• Minnesota is 14-7 SU in its last 21 games
• Minnesota is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games at home
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 6 games when playing Detroit
• Minnesota is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit

Detroit Tigers Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 6 games
• Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 6 games when playing Minnesota
• Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota