The AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins (20-15) open a 3-game series Monday against the Oakland Athletics (15-22). First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. at Oakland Coliseum. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Twins vs. Athletics odds with MLB picks and predictions.

Season series: Twins lead 3-0

The Twins are coming off a 9-game homestand that started with a sweep of Oakland and ended with a 5-4 record.

The Athletics have been busy, with 12 games in their last 10 days, a stretch in which they went 5-7.

Minnesota Twins at Oakland Athletics projected starters

RHP Chris Archer vs. LHP Zach Logue

Archer (0-1, 4.43 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.48 WHIP, 4.8 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 in 22 1/3 IP.

• Hasn’t been working very deep into games, as he has topped out at 79 pitches and 4 1/3 IP to this point.
• Is walking batters at the highest rate of his career, issuing 3 free passes in 4 of his 6 starts, even with them being short outings.

Logue (2-1, 1.35 ERA) makes his 4th appearance and 3rd start. He has a 1.05 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 in 13 1/3 IP.

• Took the loss against the Twins in his 1st start, allowing 2 ER in 5 IP with 5 K.
• Was impressive in his most recent start, hurling 7 shutout innings against Detroit with 6 K and 0 BB.

Twins at Athletics odds and lines

• Money line (ML): Twins -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Athletics +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Twins -1.5 (+133) | Athletics +1.5 (-165)
• Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +100 | U: -125)

Twins at Athletics picks and predictions

Prediction

Athletics 5, Twins 4

Money line

Logue has been solid in his first taste of the majors, while on the other side, Archer’s struggles have continued. He has already surrendered 6 HR and 12 BB in just 22 1/3 IP and is lucky his ERA isn’t higher than it is.

Though Oakland has struggled at home this season, they should have the pitching edge and are a good bet to pull off the minor upset. Back the ATHLETICS +105.

Run line/Against the spread

While Logue has been good so far, he’s not proven enough to lay these odds on. There’s not much value in either side of this line so just PASS.

Over/Under

Both teams rank bottom 10 in runs per game on the season (Minnesota 21st, Oakland 28th) but this total is too low. Archer hasn’t been effective at all and Logue can’t be completely trusted to shut down the Twins, as he profiles as a back-of-the rotation starter. Take the OVER 7.5 (+100).

Follow @RuddHQ on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.