The Minnesota Twins and the Oakland A’s meet Wednesday in MLB action from O.co Coliseum. This will be the finale in a three-game series. Minnesota took the opener by two runs, then on Tuesday in game two the A’s managed a three-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Minnesota peppered in eight hits during the opener on Monday, ultimately pulling off a 3-1 victory. On Tuesday in game two, the Twins had seven team hits in a 5-2 loss. Starter Dylan Bundy left after 3.0 clean frames, two hits, two walks and three Ks.
For the starter job in the Wednesday finale, the Twins will send out Sonny Gray. This year in four starts Gray is 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA. Across his 14.2 innings total he’s put up six earned on nine walks and 20 strikeouts.
Over on the A’s side, they couldn’t get much going Monday in the opener with a tepid four team hits. In the Tuesday matchup, Oakland scored three times in the seventh during the win. James Kaprielian lasted 5.1 innings in the start with two earned on four hits and a walk.
Daulton Jefferies will make the start for the A’s on Wednesday. Across his seven starts this year Jefferies is 1-6 with a 4.84 ERA. In his 35.1 innings total Jefferies has 39 hits, 19 earned, five walks and 23 Ks.
The Twins are 6-2 in their last eight in game three of a series and 15-6 in their last 21 on grass. Minnesota is 17-7 in their last 24 overall.
Meanwhile, the A’s are 94-39 in their last 133 versus the AL Central and 25-11 in their last 36 Wednesday games. Oakland is 17-35 in their last 52 versus a right-handed starter.
PICK: I’m sticking with the Twins. Gray is still looking for his first win this year, but he’s done pretty well over his last two starts. In that frame, he’s got 8.1 innings with six hits, two earned and six walks. As for Jefferies, he’s certainly had some tough starts this year so far. The good news is that he’s coming off just two earned on five hits in 6.0 innings versus the Angels. I like Jefferies to post another decent outing here but fall short of getting the win.