Angels vs. Twins Odds & Betting Predictions - September 9, 2024

Follow On X: https://x.com/PicksOffice Both teams have been victimized of late offensively, and the hitting woes by both the Angels and Twins set up well for a low-scoring affair. In their last 10 games, the Angels have posted a meager .188 batting average, while the Twins aren't far off that with a team average of .196 in the same span. These numbers indicate that major problems are permeating an offense from neither team displaying much in the way of rhyme or reason at the plate. The Angels also sit 27th in runs per game, with 3.92, 28th in team batting average, with a .228 mark, and 29th in OPS, with a .670 mark. Accordingly, hardly would anyone expect the Angels to go in an offensive explosion after being held to four or fewer runs in eight of their last 10 games, particularly against a strong Twins pitching staff. The Twins, though 11th in runs per game on the season, have been shut out twice in their last three and eight of their last 10 games have also seen them score four or fewer runs. On the mound, Reid Detmers and David Festa aren't top-tier arms but both have flashed promise in recent performances. Detmers went in his last start with 10 Ks against 2 earned runs; add in two decent outings for Festa in which he threw 11 innings, struck out 7 times, and had a 0.95 WHIP to show for improvement. The fact is, both pitchers are in better form than their seasonal averages suggest, and neither offense really has shown signs of being able to exploit the other pitcher's weaknesses. Going forward, both bullpens have performed well recently. The Twins bullpen has been good, posting a 3.32 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP. That WHIP places them among the best in the game at limiting baserunners. This becomes an important aspect of strong bullpen play, which suppresses late-inning scoring opportunities and keeps the games tighter into the later frames. Recent matchups between these two teams have trended under, and that looks set to continue with both teams struggling offensively and showing improved pitching. Seven of the last 10 games in Minnesota have gone under the total, which also supports a lower-scoring outcome. With the strong Minnesota bullpen, solid WHIP of 1.18 for third in the league, and high strikeout rate-fourth in the league-their D can stymie an already struggling Angels offense. On the other side, the Angels lack much power-25th in home runs-limiting the chances of quick-scoring bursts. Putting it all together, the under is a solid play in this game.