Twins vs. Tigers Prediction and Odds for Thursday, June 2 (My Revenge on Chris Archer)

Chris Archer pitching for the Twins
Chris Archer pitching for the Twins / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

It’s game five between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers.  A rare extended series has given these two divisional opponents a good look at each other.  

The Twins trot out Chris Archer, while the Tigers go with Alex Faedo.  Don’t expect much length from either starting pitcher. Archer’s longest outing to date is 4.1 innings, while Faedo has yet to see the seventh inning.  

This means we look to the bullpens to potentially find value in this one.  

Detroit, despite sitting in the underwhelming 4th place in the AL Central, has been stellar when it's had a lead to protect. It's second in the league in bullpen ERA, 2.91, just behind Houston.  Minnesota checks in at a pedestrian 14th in the majors with a 3.68.  

It’ll be important to monitor bullpen availability at the end of such a long series, but advantage Tigers.  

Twins vs. Tigers Odds, Run Line, and Total

Run Line:

  • Twins -1.5 (+115)
  • Tigers +1.5 (-135)

Moneyline:

  • Twins -120
  • Tiger +100

Total:

  • 8 (Over -115, Under -105)

Twins vs. Tigers Prediction and Pick

The bullpen is an advantage for the Tigers, but it might be their only one.  They’re a putrid offensive team.  They have one player with an OPS over .700 and it’s 39 year old Miguel Cabrera (Austin Meadows is on the IL).  

It’s my first day at Betsided, so it’s important for readers to know I’m a diehard Pittsburgh fan and when it comes to baseball, sadly that means the Pirates.  While the Twins are clearly the better team, anger clouds logic when it comes to this pick.  

You might ask why a Pirate fan would have any anger towards the outcome of Twins and Tigers at the start of June.  The answer involves the man on the mound of Minnesota.  Back in 2018, the Pirates sent Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow to Tampa Bay for Chris Archer.  Needless to say that did not work out for the Pirates, in large part because Chris Archer was awful in black and gold -- and maybe in larger part due to Meadows and Glasnow having so much success.  

Are the Twins the better team?  Yes, but the Tigers have the better starter on the mound and the better bullpen for this one. So, I invite you to join me in my hatred of Chris Archer.  

Pick: Tigers +100