8:10 pm
June 21

Reds @ Twins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Cincinnati Reds (35-35)

@ Minnesota Twins (30-41)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Mahle (CIN): 7-2; 3.39 ERA

Happ (MIN) 3-3; 6.12 ERA

 

Current odds:

Cincinnati Reds: (-112)

Minnesota Twins: (+102)

 

• The Minnesota Twins return home to Minneapolis after matching their season-high with a four-game winning streak heading into a two-game series with the Cincinnati Reds starting Monday night. The Reds, meanwhile, who began their current nine-game road trip with a three-game sweep of the Brewers in Milwaukee, bring a four-game losing streak with them after getting swept by the Padres in San Diego.

• Left-hander J.A. Happ (3-3, 6.12 ERA), who hasn’t had a quality start since April 28, will start for Minnesota vs. right-hander Tyler Mahle (7-2, 3.39).

• Happ is 3-3 with a 5.36 ERA in nine career starts against Cincinnati but last faced the Reds in 2017. Mahle, meanwhile, has been one of the hottest pitchers in baseball, going 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA over his last five starts, most recently a 2-1 win at Milwaukee on Wednesday that saw him tie his career-high with 12 strikeouts while holding the Brewers to one run on three hits over six innings.

• That was the last time the Reds won. Cincinnati lost 6-4 at San Diego on Thursday night on Victor Caratini’s dramatic two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth, kicking off a losing streak that included a 3-2 loss to the Padres on Sunday afternoon.

• Minnesota finished a 4-2 road trip that ended with a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers, including a 4-2 victory on Sunday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.

• Byron Buxton, who was activated Saturday after missing 40 games with a right hip injury, homered, doubled and drove in two runs, while Luis Arraez, Andrelton Simmons and Trevor Larnach each had three hits for the Twins.

• Kenta Maeda, who was making his second start after a three-week stint on the injured list with a right adductor strain and right arm soreness, picked up his first victory since May 3 after allowing two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Cincinnati Reds
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