Athletics at Twins 7/18/19 - MLB Picks & Predictions

By: Mike |

Last Updated: 08/20/2019 at 8:16 AM ET

The Oakland Athletics open a four-game series on the road Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. The A’s won their fifth straight and seventh in their last eight with a 9-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Matt Chapman hit a home run and drove in five runs to lead the A’s to the win. Oakland is just 4 ½ games behind first place Houston in the American League West.

Minnesota lost on Tuesday to the New York Mets on Tuesday 3-2 and saw its lead over the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central reduced to just five games. Max Kepler drove in one run for Minnesota with a groundout, while C.J. Cron had an RBI double. Eddie Rosario and Cron both returned to the Twins lineup after missing several games with injuries.
Matt Chapman leads Oakland with a .280 batting average, in home runs with 22 and in RBIs with 59. Marcus Semien leads in hits with 108. The A’s are averaging .249 at the plate while opposing hitters are averaging .241. On Thursday, the A’s will send Mike Fiers to the mound. The right-hander is 9-3 with an ERA of 3.61, 74 Ks and 31 BBs.

Jorge Polanco leads Minnesota with a .307 batting average and in hits with 115. Max Kepler leads in home runs with 23, while Eddie Rosario leads in RBIs with 60. Minnesota has a .271 batting average while opponents are batting .244. On Thursday, the Twins will send Kyle Gibson to the mound. The right-hander is 8-4 with an Era of 4.03, 99 Ks and 29 BBs.

Oakland is red-hot entering this series having won each of its last 5 and 7 of the last 8 to move within 4 ½ games of the first place Houston Astros. Oakland has won 4 of the last 5 played in Minnesota and 7 of the last 9 overall against the Twins. Minnesota is in a big tailspin having gone 6-8 over its last 14 and watching its lead in the AL Central cut to just 5 games over Cleveland. Final Score Prediction, Oakland Athletics win 7-4.

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