The Detroit Tigers (17-17) play the Minnesota Twins (22-16) in the first game of a doubleheader as part of a 5-game series beginning Friday. The first pitch of Game 1 is set for 2:10 p.m. ET at Target Field. Below, we analyze the Tigers-Twins MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Both games of the doubleheader will be just seven innings.
Tigers at Twins: Projected starting pitchers
LHP Matthew Boyd vs. RHP Randy Dobnak
Boyd: 1-4 with a 7.27 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 over 34 2/3 IP through 7 starts.
- Last start: Win with 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 K and 0 BB against the Twins Aug. 29.
- Career vs. Twins: 8-6 with a 4.69 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 110 K and 39 BB in 113 1/3 IP over 20 starts.
Dobnak: 5-2 with a 3.12 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 4.4 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 over 34 2/3 IP through 7 starts.
- Last start: Loss with 4 1/3 IP, 12 H, 6 ER, 1 K and 2 BB at the Tigers Aug. 29.
- Career vs. Tigers: 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 10 K and 2 BB in 11 1/3 IP over 3 games (2 starts).
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Tigers at Twins: Key injuries
(Get the latest injury news here.)
Tigers
- OF JaCoby Jones (hand) out
- 3B Niko Goodrum (abdominal) questionable
- 3B Harold Castro (hamstring) out
- OF Troy Strokes Jr. (hand) out
Twins
- OF Max Kepler (groin) questionable
- 2B Luis Arraez (knee) questionable
- C Mitch Garver (ribs) out
Also see: BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
Tigers at Twins: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:40 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Tigers 6, Twins 3
Moneyline (ML)
The Tigers (+140) had their 6-game winning streak broken Wednesday in an 8-5 loss at the Milwaukee Brewers. Detroit is a surprising .500 team currently and has a 3-game sweep over Minnesota in its only regular-season meeting with its AL Central rival.
The Twins (-154) won their previous two games against the Chicago White Sox entering Friday but that followed a 6-game losing skid, which included their 3-game sweep by Detroit.
Maybe I am the sucker here but there is just too much value in the TIGERS (+140) since they won in almost this exact same situation earlier this season. Boyd pitched against Dobnak in the first game of a doubleheader Aug. 29 and Detroit won 8-2.
The only difference being this game is in Minnesota and the Twins have a 14-4 record at home; however, the Tigers have a winning road record (8-7) and Boyd’s numbers against the Twins lineup are much better than Dobnak against the Tigers.
GIMME TIGERS (+140). New to sports betting? A $50 bet on the Tigers (+140) pays a $0 profit if Detroit upsets Minnesota.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Twins -1.5 (+140) have the best run line record at home in MLB. Also, Minnesota was 26-12 straight up against Detroit in 2018-19. So, if we are wrong here about Detroit pulling off an upset it wouldn’t be surprising, making the Tigers +1.5 (-167) too expensive given the circumstances. PASS ON THE RUN LINE.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS ON THE TOTAL. I don’t generally like playing totals and I have zero feel for a 7-inning total. One game went Over and the other Under in the Tigers-Twins previous 7-inning doubleheader. I lean Over 7 (-110) because Detroit has a sneaky good lineup but the Twins have the highest percentage of Unders in the MLB.
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