ODDS ANALYSIS
The Orioles hit a wall after winning 16 of 20 games to vault into the top spot in the AL East. Monday’s loss to the Twins was Baltimore’s sixth in its last eight games, a stretch littered with inconsistent play that has them in the red 5.6 units on the moneyline.
The under is 3-1 on Baltimore’s current road trip and 9-3-1 in their last 13 games overall. The O’s have been a strong under play this season going 21-15-2 on the road.
Minnesota is the most profitable team in the American League up 13.27 units overall and all their damage on the moneyline has come in games at Target Field. The Twins improved to 26-15 at home with Monday’s 4-2 win and are in the red 13.58 units. The teams cashed the under Monday and the under is 5-0-1 in Minnesota’s last six games. The Twins won each of Kyle Gibson’s last two starts with the under going 3-0-1 in his last four.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Kevin Gausman (1-0, 3.09 ERA) solidified his spot in the rotation by tossing 6.1 scoreless frames with seven strikeouts against Texas on Thursday in just his second start of the year. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Gausman will remain in the rotation, taking over for the disappointing Bud Norris, who was moved to the bullpen.
Gausman took the loss giving up four earned on five hits in 7.1 innings in his only appearance against the Twins, a start on Sept. 1, 2014.
Kyle Gibson (6-6, 3.04 ERA) is coming off a terrific outing against the Royals when he tossed eight scoreless inning getting out of a jam in his final frame. He has a sparkling 2.45 ERA over his last four starts and 54 strikeouts in 64.1 innings over his last 10 starts.
Gibson took a no-decision in his only start against the Orioles, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts in a 3-2 loss on Aug. 30, 2013.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“You can speculate on how he’ll take it, but he’s had a couple really good starts after a couple that were less in terms of command and things like that. But he’s developed a really good mentality about how he goes out there and the way he wants to perform to give our team a chance.” – Twins manager Paul Molitor on letting Kyle Gibson work his way out of an eighth-inning jam Thursday in a win at Kansas City
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Pitcher Kevin Gausman played a major role in Baltimore’s charge to the AL East title in 2014, going 7-7 in 20 starts with a 3.57 ERA. Unfortunately his success last season didn’t carry over. He started 2015 in the O’s bullpen, hit the disabled list and was optioned back and forth from Triple-A Norfolk several times, including after his first start of this season when he limited Toronto to two runs in five innings on June 20. Gausman is back and hungry to regain his status in the starting rotation and did just that with 6.1 scoreless innings against Texas on Thursday. “We are trying to run our best five starters out there and right now we think Kevin is one of them,” manager Buck Showalter said. Gausman takes the spot of Bud Norris, who was sent to the bullpen after compiling a 6.79 ERA in 11 starts.
PROP TALK
Minnesota’s Brian Dozier was left off the AL reserve roster for the All-Star Game on Monday and promptly took out his omission on the visiting Orioles, clubbing his first career walk-off home run in the 10th inning to give the Twins a 4-2 win. Dozier was coming off a 2 for 17 showing at the plate in Kansas City over the weekend but stroked his 17th homer of the year and AL-best 47th extra-base hit. He’s batting .361 with 11 runs scored during a 10-game hitting streak in the series.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Minnesota doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon and the rest of the AL Central is helping them stay right in the thick of the race. Just when you think they’re ready to cash it in they put a little streak together and bring up their top prospects to get everyone excited again. Baltimore finally demoted Bud Norris, who’s been horrible in his 11 starts, turning to Kevin Gausman to take his spot in the rotation. Gausman was terrific his last time out and silences a Twins lineup that doesn’t do anything particularly well.
Baltimore 6, Minnesota 2
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Baltimore Orioles versus the Minnesota Twins will commence Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at 8:10 p.m. ET at Target Field. The game will be televised live on FSNO and MASN2.
