We've got plenty of afternoon action on the MLB betting board for Thursday, including a battle between the AL-East leading Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins.
The Red Sox are red hot right now and after taking the first three games in this series will look to complete the sweep at Target Field today.
Here are our best free MLB picks and predictions for the Red Sox vs. Twins on Thursday, April 15, with the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Red Sox vs Twins odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare MLB odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
MLB sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonDraftKings went up with Minnesota a -167 favorite Wednesday night, and as of 11:30 a.m. ET, the moneyline is down to -152. Ticket count and money are both in the 2/1 range on Boston. The total moved from 8.5 to 9, with 68 percent of tickets/89 percent of money on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameRed Sox vs Twins betting preview
Starting pitchers
Garrett Richards (0-1, 10.29 ERA): Richards hasn't been the same since Tommy John surgery in 2018. The right-hander has looked beyond awful in his first two starts with Boston.
He gave up six runs in just two innings in his 2021 debut against the Orioles and then surrendered two home runs in five innings against Baltimore the following week.
Michael Pineda (1-0, 1.64 ERA): Pineda is coming off a no-decision against Seattle where he allowed a pair of dingers but otherwise looked sharp, striking out six and allowing two runs through six innings of work.
He went five strong innings without allowing a single earned run in his season opener against the Brewers and had a 3.91 ERA across 31 starts with the Twins over the last two years.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Red Sox: Ryan Brasier RP (Out).
Twins: Byron Buxton OF (Questionable), Andrelton Simmons SS (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 20-7 in Boston's last 27 games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Twins.
Moneyline pick
Don't look now, but the Boston Red Sox are on a nine-game winning streak after ominously opening their season by getting swept by the Baltimore Orioles.
Minnesota has now lost five in a row, including a pair of losses at the hands of the BoSox yesterday. That said, the Twins are installed as favorites tonight for good reason.
Red Sox starter Garrett Richards has struggled in his first two starts for his new club, pitching to a 10.29 ERA with a 2.14 WHIP through seven innings. And the Twins' big bats are due for a break-out performance after being held to two or fewer runs in each of their last three games.
Keep in mind that prior to this series, Minnesota had been averaging 6.11 runs per game with an OPS of .797 through the first nine games of the year, those numbers ranking among the Top-5 in the majors.
The Twins should have more reliable pitching this afternoon with Michael Pineda toeing the rubber. The massive right-hander has looked solid in both of his starts this season, posting a 1.64 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP across 11 innings.
Look for a pair of streaks to snap, with the Twins pulling off the win today.
PREDICTION: ML Minnesota (-161)
Over/Under pick
We mentioned that the Twins were one of the best hitting teams in the majors before this series began, and with the quality of their batters that should be of little surprise. Nelson Cruz is one of the best power hitters in the league, while outfielder Byron Buxton is having an MVP-caliber year by batting .469 with five doubles and five dingers through nine games.
While Buxton missed the double-header yesterday due to a strained hamstring, reports are that he was kept out of the second contest as a precaution, so expect to see him back in action this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are proving that there are still quality bats in Boston during the post-Mookie Betts era. J.D. Martinez (1.30 OPS), Rafael Devers (five homers and 13 RBI), and Xander Bogaerts (.372 BA) are all raking, with the Bo Sox emerging as one of the best hitting teams in the majors.
The Red Sox sit second in the majors in both scoring (6.0 runs per game) and OPS (.816). They have also gone 20-7 to the Over in their last 27 contests going back to last season. Back the Over again.
PREDICTION: Over 9 (-110)
Red Sox vs Twins betting card
- ML Minnesota (-161)
- Over 9 (-110)
Picks made on 04/15/2021 at 9:10 a.m. ET.
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