The Minnesota Twins can’t clinch the AL Central on Wednesday but they can essentially eliminate the second-place Guardians from the race with a victory in Cleveland as the teams close their series. They don’t play again in 2023.

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Twins vs. Guardians Game Information

Things are looking up. #TwinsWin | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/xk2ujLtuML

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 6, 2023

• When: Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 1:10 PM ET
• Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
• TV: BSNO, BSGL, MLBN
• Radio: KMNB-FM 102.9 FM (Twins) // WTAM 1100 AM (Guardians)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Twins (-123) // Guardians (+105)

READ MORE: Diamondbacks vs. Cubs MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – September 7, 2023

Why bet on the Minnesota Twins?

Minnesota remains without former All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton and it’s starting to look as if Buxton might struggle to get back before the end of the regular season. Buxton (knee) did not accompany the St. Paul Saints on their six-game road trip as his rehab stint at Triple-A was paused after a flareup of patella tendinitis in his right knee. Buxton has been on the injured list since Aug. 4 with a strained right hamstring and has only played DH in the majors this season due to limitations related to his September 2022 right knee surgery.

Alexs Kirilloff began a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Aug. 30, and he will continue playing rehab games with the Saints this week, according to manager Rocco Baldelli, for “at least a few more days,” he said.

How good has rookie infielder Royce Lewis been of late? The former No. 1 overall pick has finally overcome two years’ worth of ACL injuries to unleash his talent on the league. He has hit three grand slams in his past nine games after another on Monday.

Lewis became the first rookie in AL/NL history with three grand slams in a span of eight games or fewer and the fourth player overall, joining Larry Parrish (1982), Jim Northrup (‘68) and Lou Gehrig (‘31). Lewis’ three grand slams this season have matched a Twins single-season record — joining Bob Allison (1961), Rod Carew (1976), Kent Hrbek (1985), Kirby Puckett (1992) and Torii Hunter (2007) — and tied him for second-most grand slams in a season by a rookie, trailing only Alexei Ramirez’s four slams in 2008.

Since the All-Star break, the Twins have the fourth-most wins in the American League behind Seattle, Baltimore and Houston.

It’s right-hander Joe Ryan on the mound Wednesday. Ryan (10-8) allowed one run on three hits across six innings last Friday, striking out seven and earning a win over Texas. Aside from Corey Seager’s solo homer in the fourth inning, Ryan was nearly untouchable. It was his first appearance without walking a batter since June 27 and the first time he completed six innings since July 26. Despite the strong outing, he threw a season-low 74 pitches, though he still managed to force 14 whiffs. Ryan lowered his season ERA to 4.20 with a 166:27 K:BB through 24 starts.

Ryan is facing the Guardians for the third time this season and the eight time in his career. He is 0-2, 2.84 ERA (12.2 IP, 4 ER) with one walk and eight strikeouts in his two previous starts against Cleveland this season and 3-2, 1.83 ERA (44.1 IP, 9 ER) with five walks and 34 strikeouts in his previous seven career starts.

Why bet on the Cleveland Guardians?

The Guardians have 7 wins when trailing after 8 innings this season. They are tied with Miami and Philadelphia with the most wins when trailing after 8 innings. The last time Cleveland had 7-or-more wins when trailing after 8 innings was 2007 when the club also had 7 victories. Since July 7, All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase has converted 13 of 15 save opportunities with a 1.61 ERA (4ER/22.1IP) across 22 appearances. Since the start of last season, Clase leads MLB with 79 saves and 141 appearances, while his 135.2IP rank 3rd among MLB relievers during that stretch.

All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez has had another 20-homer, 20-steal seasons. Ramírez’s 5 seasons of 20-or-more homers and steals are the most in club history, ahead of Grady Sizemore (4), and tied for the most among active players with LAA’s Mike Trout. He ranks T10th in MLB history for most such seasons.

It’s rookie right-hander Gavin Williams (1-5) on the mound. Williams will get a bit of extra rest after exiting his most recent start last Tuesday versus Minnesota due to right knee soreness. The 24-year-old has pitched to a solid 3.46 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB across his first 65 major-league innings (13 starts) this season for the Guardians.

Williams attacks hitters with a hard four-seamer – at 95.7 mph on average. His 58.7% fastball rate is the sixth-highest among starters who have thrown as many as 750 pitches. At home this year, the 24-year-old is 1-3 with a 4.29 ERA.

Twins vs. Guardians Betting Trends

• Minnesota is 4-1 SU in the last 5 games..
• Twins are 7-13 SU in its last 20 games against Cleveland.
• The total went over in 4 of Minnesota’s last 5 games.
• Cleveland is 2-5 SU in the last 7 games at home.
• Guardians are 15-5 SU in its last 20 games played in September.
• The total went under in 12 of Cleveland’s last 18 games against Minnesota.

Twins vs. Guardians Betting Prediction

Guardians 4, Twins 3.

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