The AL East leading Boston Red Sox open a three-game road series against the Minnesota Twins tonight, Monday August 8th, as they try to distance themselves from the Yankees. Boston has won three of four against Minnesota in 2011. MLB oddsmakers have the BoSox as -112 moneyline road favourites over the Twins (+123) with the over/under set at 8.5 runs. Be sure to get your Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins prediction in now.
Boston (70-43, 33-21 V) has won six of their last ten games and they won two of three on their last road trip. The Sox are currently leading the AL East by 1 game over the Yankees. They took two of three from New York over the weekend, winning 3-2 in 10 innings Sunday. Josh Reddick drove in the game-winner and is now batting .338 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 46 games. Boston hasn't won back-to-back games there in Minnesota in more than a decade and they’ll rely on Twin killer Dustin Pedroia, who’s hit .442 lifetime in Minnesota. He's batting .381 with nine RBIs in nine road games since the All-Star break.
Tim Wakefield (6-5, 4.99 ERA) will try again for career win No. 200 tonight against a horrible Twins squad. He surrendered three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 4-3 win over Cleveland on Wednesday. He also gave up three runs and three hits in seven innings of a loss to Chicago on July 29. Wakefield is 1/3 with an 8.38 ERA in his last four starts against the Twins and has lost the last two, giving up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 9-2 loss May 6.
Minnesota (51-63, 26-28 H) has lost eight of their last ten games and were swept during their last three at home. The Twins sit 10 games back in the AL Central from Detroit. They have been outscored 25-5 during their losing streak, including 7-0 on Sunday as they were held to four hits. Minnesota has lost 14 of 21 in total. Good news for the Twins is Joe Mauer is 5 for 14 with a home run against Wakefield while Jim Thome, who remains two home runs shy of 600, has hit .172 with three homers and 12 strikeouts.
Scott Baker (8-6, 3.01) lasted just three innings in an 11-4 win at Los Angeles on Wednesday. Baker gave up four runs — three earned — and needed 77 pitches in his shortest outing of the season. He had given up two earned runs in his previous four starts combined. But, he is better at home. five straight outings at Target Field and not allowing an earned run in the last four. He has a 0.22 ERA in his past six home starts, walking four and striking out 40. The right-hander beat the Red Sox for the first time May 6, giving up two solo homers but pitching eight innings of a 9-2 win. He had been 0-2 in his previous four games against them.
Recent Trends to Consider:
Red Sox are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Under is 8-2-2 in the last 12 meetings.
Over is 4-1 in Wakefields last 5 starts vs. Twins.
Under is 22-8-2 in the last 32 meetings in Minnesota.
Twins are 1-5 in their last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Twins are 1-5 in their last 6 games following a loss.
Twins are 1-5 in their last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Red Sox are 7-15 in the last 22 meetings in Minnesota.
Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins
When: Monday August 8th@7:10 PM ET
Pick: Sox -112
Point-Spreads recommends you check out MLB Odds before the Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins game.
The Bottom Line: The Twins could get lucky here. Be sure to get your Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins prediction in now.
