Twins vs Red Sox | Prediction & Pick

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Minnesota Twins (12-20) vs Boston Red Sox (16-18)
Monday, May 9, 2011 at 7:10 PM EST on ESPN

Pitching Probables: Nick Blackburn vs. Josh Beckett

Spread: Red Sox -1.5
Money Line: Red Sox -240 / Twins +200
Over/Under: 8.5

The Minnesota Twins are trying to get themselves back to respectability, but it hasn’t been easy with so many key players in and out of the lineup.  They just can’t stay healthy, and now even their call-ups have become subject to the injury bug with shortstop prospect Trevor Plouffe questionable for tonight after joining the club over the weekend.  On the hill tonight’s starter Nick Blackburn might be starting to come around.  In his last outing he gave up just one earned run, an improvement after giving up 5 ERs in each of his last three starts.  Still he is walking too many batters for someone who relies on control to get the job done.  He doesn’t miss many bats with just 15 Ks in 34 innings so his margin for error is very slim, especially in a hitter’s park like Fenway.

Boston is still under .500 but with no team taking off in the American League East they are still in the thick of things in the division.  Outfielder Carl Crawford looks like he might be breaking out of his season long funk  but still has a long way to go to justify the investment they made in him this offseason.  Speaking of coming around, starter Josh Beckett has once again become a reliable option for the Sox in the early going.  He is striking out nearly a batter an inning agains and has been especially stingy at Fenway Park where his ERA is 0.47.  Best of all he is keeping the ball in the yard (no homers allowed at home yet this season).  He left his last start a little early due to injury but should be ready to go for this one.  That last note hopefully adds a little value on the Boston side this evening.

The odds makers have the Boston Red Sox as a -1.5 point favorite with an run total of 8.5.

Check out the latest MLB Baseball Odds here.

Prediction:  Another sharp outing by Beckett leads to a Boston victory.  Sox jump all over Blackburn, take the over as well.

Score Prediction: Boston  – 10 / Minnesota – 4

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Minnesota Twins Betting Trends:

• Minnesota is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Minnesota’s last 21 games on the road
• Minnesota is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Minnesota’s last 11 games when playing Boston

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston’s last 7 games
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston’s last 7 games at home
• Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Boston’s last 11 games when playing Minnesota